In stepping away from the Narrative Pulse of South Africa, this thought comes from a story carried by TIME, Nov 6th, entitled "Bones of Contention". The piece profiles the recent emergence of photos that capture German soldiers posing with human bones in Afghanistan.

Doesn't it boggle the mind that soldiers want to document their atrocities … and how these pics somehow get leaked to the press (world)? It is now a fully-fledged phenomenon since the first notable case leaked to the world of 21-year old Lynndie "Leash Lady" England. The majority of press around the pics centre's on the abuse they portray, but no-one seems to have picked up on the issue around taking the pics in the first place.

Is it boredom? Not knowing how to deal with the stress and anxiety of war? An infantile regression? Or just plainly a losing of inhibitions that is an excuse to do things that ol' Mama wouldn't let you do in the house back at home?

First soldier: Hey, I wanna desecrate some local scumbags!
Second soldier: Yeah, cool, hang on … let me get my camera out.
First soldier: Awesome … my mama will sure enjoy having this pic of her boy on her mantle.
Second soldier: Damn, the light in here is terrible.
First soldier: Aw come awn … don't make me let go of this sh*#head to come over and show you how to use that thang!

This photo forms part of a collection of war-time pictures taken by soldiers published in the book "This Is Our War" (see some others here). The caption next to it reads:

Photographer: Former Army specialist Jeremy Sivits

Undated: Abu Ghraib prison

'I took one picture at the prison that night, but it was with [Cpl. Charles A.] Graner's camera. He asked me to take it. The picture I took was of Graner. He was cradling a prisoner in a headlock position, and he had his hand drawn back like he was going to strike the detainee … When the pictures broke to the media, I was ashamed. I mean, I was disgusted. I felt that I'd let my family down, I'd betrayed my country, everything. I wish I could go back. I should have said something. I should have stopped it. But I didn't want anybody to get in trouble, because that's the kind of person I am.'

Just goes to show: what happens on The (Abu Ghraib) Green Mile …. doesn't stay on the Mile.

I'm not sure what the deal is with this "photographic trend" but it reminds me of how William Golding captured the raw, unscenscored human psyche in Lord of the Flies .

He knelt, holding the shell of water. a rounded patch of sunlight fell on his face and a brightness appeared in the depths of the water. He looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger. He split the water and leapt to his feet, laughing excitedly. Besides the mere, his sinewy body held up a mask that drew their eyes and appalled them. He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling. He capered towards Bill, and the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.

Lord of the Flies, Painted Faces and Long Hair, pg. 80

 

Perhaps, in war, we are liberated from our shame and inhibitions?