Comments on: The Case For Documenting Death http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Maryam in Marrakech http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Maryam in Marrakech Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:38:47 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/#comment-616 My Dad lived in Cambodia for 2 years (while I was living in Nepal). And I went on many trips there. I was astounded by the stories of horror I heard and the wells of sadness I saw. If ever there is a place that has been traumatized, I am afraid that is it. My Dad lived in Cambodia for 2 years (while I was living in Nepal). And I went on many trips there. I was astounded by the stories of horror I heard and the wells of sadness I saw. If ever there is a place that has been traumatized, I am afraid that is it.

(Report comment)

]]> By: JennDZ http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/comment-page-1/#comment-593 JennDZ Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:55:03 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/#comment-593 I am an anthropologist by trade and I have always held something close to my heart when going to another culture and then sharing parts of their stories with others when I got home. The question is: Do they want me to share the story? If so, then inevitably I do. Sometimes these things that are not well known are the very things needing to be heard..... But if it is something that is more sacred more secret, and I do not have permission to share then, then I will never. So you always have to be sure that what you say and share does not go against the very people you are trying to help by sharing. I am an anthropologist by trade and I have always held something close to my heart when going to another culture and then sharing parts of their stories with others when I got home. The question is: Do they want me to share the story?
If so, then inevitably I do. Sometimes these things that are not well known are the very things needing to be heard…..
But if it is something that is more sacred more secret, and I do not have permission to share then, then I will never.
So you always have to be sure that what you say and share does not go against the very people you are trying to help by sharing.

(Report comment)

]]> By: karen http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/comment-page-1/#comment-589 karen Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:51:51 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/#comment-589 Ian - this lyrical article made something very clear for me. At the time we the Killing Fields, in the hot Cambodian sun, with hundreds of tourists milling about, I felt pre-occupied with what I should be feeling, what others were feeling, and generally trying to "gather" enough information so I could process the facts intelligibly. Your compilation of photos and video from that day allowed me to absorb, in the peace of my own living space (in an environment so far removed), this horrific experience. From a distance, but with the images so close, I was truly able to reflect on this genocide, allow my emotions to flow, find courage to tell others with integrity: I hadn't just gaped at the numbers, facts and figures that I remember from that day. That's why I think it's important. Ian – this lyrical article made something very clear for me. At the time we the Killing Fields, in the hot Cambodian sun, with hundreds of tourists milling about, I felt pre-occupied with what I should be feeling, what others were feeling, and generally trying to “gather” enough information so I could process the facts intelligibly.

Your compilation of photos and video from that day allowed me to absorb, in the peace of my own living space (in an environment so far removed), this horrific experience. From a distance, but with the images so close, I was truly able to reflect on this genocide, allow my emotions to flow, find courage to tell others with integrity: I hadn’t just gaped at the numbers, facts and figures that I remember from that day.

That’s why I think it’s important.

(Report comment)

]]> By: The TravMonkey http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/comment-page-1/#comment-584 The TravMonkey Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:52:51 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/#comment-584 "A part of me felt like a crass tourist, simply collecting photographs just like any other scene" I felt exactly the same at the Killing Fields. It shocked me, but at the same time facinated me. I think it is important to document these things, too few people actually know what went on in Cambodia. The way everything is stripped bare for all to see in Cambodia is probably what is most shocking. For example the bones and clothes from the mass graves can be seen coming up through the earth. Whilst it did shock me, I think it really brought home the horrific events in Cambodia. If this was in the Western world it would probably be more sanitised and in turn have much less of an impact. I think it is very important to learn about these shocking events, they are part of History and part of Cambodia. So they should be reflected within your travel dvd. “A part of me felt like a crass tourist, simply collecting photographs just like any other scene”

I felt exactly the same at the Killing Fields. It shocked me, but at the same time facinated me.

I think it is important to document these things, too few people actually know what went on in Cambodia.

The way everything is stripped bare for all to see in Cambodia is probably what is most shocking. For example the bones and clothes from the mass graves can be seen coming up through the earth. Whilst it did shock me, I think it really brought home the horrific events in Cambodia. If this was in the Western world it would probably be more sanitised and in turn have much less of an impact.

I think it is very important to learn about these shocking events, they are part of History and part of Cambodia. So they should be reflected within your travel dvd.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Dave http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/comment-page-1/#comment-578 Dave Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:59:14 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/#comment-578 Ian - great post on a difficult subject. I've yet to experience places of past genocides such as Cambodia, Germany/Poland, and Armenia, however a trip to the US Holocaust Museum in DC last year was a very moving experience for me. Running into a rally for Darfur last year also made me stop and reflect on how little we're collectively doing to stop the killing there, as it is seemingly not in the national interest of my country. Ian – great post on a difficult subject. I’ve yet to experience places of past genocides such as Cambodia, Germany/Poland, and Armenia, however a trip to the US Holocaust Museum in DC last year was a very moving experience for me.

Running into a rally for Darfur last year also made me stop and reflect on how little we’re collectively doing to stop the killing there, as it is seemingly not in the national interest of my country.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Madeleine http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/comment-page-1/#comment-576 Madeleine Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:03:43 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/#comment-576 Hey Ian, you were right -fantastic article. I believe there is a difference between documenting death and glorifying it. A difference between simply recording the events as you saw them or the people as they died and sensationalizing everything to make it more dramatic or horrifying. I agree with Kristin's photography prof, the way you handle such a delicate and emotional subject really does reflect on your values as a person. Having seen your dvd, I think you did a fine job of walking the line. Hey Ian, you were right -fantastic article.

I believe there is a difference between documenting death and glorifying it. A difference between simply recording the events as you saw them or the people as they died and sensationalizing everything to make it more dramatic or horrifying.

I agree with Kristin’s photography prof, the way you handle such a delicate and emotional subject really does reflect on your values as a person. Having seen your dvd, I think you did a fine job of walking the line.

(Report comment)

]]> By: ianmack http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/comment-page-1/#comment-575 ianmack Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:08:19 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/#comment-575 Hi Pam, thanks for your comments! I agree, to visit a place you have to confront its history, otherwise you're basically subscribing to its Disney-fication. Safe and sanitized...and wholly artificial. "History is part of travel, and not all of it is pretty." An excellent quote. Hi Pam, thanks for your comments! I agree, to visit a place you have to confront its history, otherwise you’re basically subscribing to its Disney-fication. Safe and sanitized…and wholly artificial. “History is part of travel, and not all of it is pretty.” An excellent quote.

(Report comment)

]]> By: pam http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/comment-page-1/#comment-574 pam Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:03:04 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/12/the-case-for-documenting-death/#comment-574 Last night I listened to a public radio documentary about Jewish rituals related to death. I mention that because it's right at the front of my mind right now. This is semantic hairsplitting, perhaps, I wonder if there's a difference between documenting death, which happened in the piece I listened to, and in documenting genocide or murder. There's an episode of Globe Trekker where Ian Wright (man, I love him) goes to Cambodia and he doesn't shy away from the history. These things are part of history - shying away from them would be like only showing the gorgeous plantations of the US South with no mention of the civil war. History is part of travel, and not all of it is pretty. I'm ramblng, I'll stop. Last night I listened to a public radio documentary about Jewish rituals related to death. I mention that because it’s right at the front of my mind right now. This is semantic hairsplitting, perhaps, I wonder if there’s a difference between documenting death, which happened in the piece I listened to, and in documenting genocide or murder. There’s an episode of Globe Trekker where Ian Wright (man, I love him) goes to Cambodia and he doesn’t shy away from the history. These things are part of history – shying away from them would be like only showing the gorgeous plantations of the US South with no mention of the civil war. History is part of travel, and not all of it is pretty.

I’m ramblng, I’ll stop.

(Report comment)

]]>