Pairs, Je T'aime - Healing Thoughts Beyond Western Culture

I have been trying to find a way to discuss the recent Paris tragedies in reference to this class, but I’m finding it difficult to put into words how I feel. However, the quote “the underside of culture is blood, torture, death, and horror,” from Jameson has helped me try to process these events. In a literal sense, in many ways Paris is seen as the epicenter of culture – particularly of art and art history. But in a more figurative sense, if one can equate culture to media, the coverage of the Parisian attacks has exemplified the meaning behind Jameson’s above quote. The media coverage of the Paris terrorist attacks has illuminated certain aspects of Western culture – particularly that of social media and online behavior. From a more critical standpoint, within the 24 hours that the Western world was changing their profile pictures to the French flag, Beirut had also suffered a terrorist attack, in which minimal coverage via social media was offered. I am one of the thousands of people that have changed their profile picture – I am not somehow suggesting that this movement is not supportive. However, I have also seen some posts criticizing the Western prejudice of ignoring third world countries struggles, until a more civilized and Western country is affected. One could argue that Paris is more “relatable” to the Western culture – I will admit that I do not have an extensive knowledge surrounding ISIS and the terrorist attack in Beirut – therefore within social media, people are more exposed to a tragedy that is within their realm of understanding. Personally, I have spent some time in Paris, and in other parts of France, and I have never experienced the peace and spiritual awakening than I did while travelling in France. I cannot put into words how much affection I have for France as a country. When I found out about the tragedy that struck in Paris, I was immediately heartbroken. Upon further investigation, the largest of the attacks in the city was only a five-minute walk from where I stayed within the city, which only intensified my feeling of inclusion with the French citizens and the horror of the events taken place. Within this post, I don’t mean to diminish the suffering of the French people – I merely want to use my position as a CMC student to encourage the wider scope of terror and suffering that is occurring throughout the world now, and look past the veneer of the cultural surface and immediate Western events – as more than Paris is suffering right now.