Blog #4

Still, Western Union: Small Boats (Isaac Julien, 2006/7)

Our readings for Week 9 take us to the Mediterranean border between Europe (the European Union) and north Africa, a border zone explored in Isaac Julien's Western Union: Small Boats (2006/7) that we will view in class next week. From your reading of F. La Cecla's "A border made of mirrors: Mazara del Vallo/Tunis: Osmosis," answer the following:

Discuss two ways in which the relation between the towns of Marzara del Vallo (Sicily) and La Goulette (Tunisia) undermines the traditional definition of the border as "a line that officially separates two countries or regions, or the land on either side of it." How does the experience of Mohammed Beshir (fisherman) illustrate the permeability of the border and the transformations in our understanding of fixed, national identities that are brought about by border crossings?

Blog Post #3

For your third blog assignment, review the selection of photographs by Sebastiao Salgado (link to D2L by clicking the image above) and read the introduction and image descriptions to "Migrations: Humanity in Transition" in the course reader. Referring to pgs. 28-29; 34/35 and 116/117, address the following:

In his introduction, Salgado writes at one point of his experiences documenting displaced persons and exiles:

"This experience of Latin America made the sprawling cities of Asia seem strangely familiar. There were differences: Sao Paulo and Mexico City are more violent places, but environmental degradation seems even worse in Asia. Yet at times I would forget where I was. Cairo? Jakarta? Mexico City? Everywhere there are those same islands of wealth amid the poverty..." (CR: 173)

1. How does Salgado's choice of medium (photography) support his narrative of "sameness-in-difference" that he uses to connect diverse migratory experiences from Mexico/US, Croatia and Spain? Provide two examples from the images on the pages listed above.

2. In your opinion, is photography an adequate medium for documenting migration in our current era of globalization? Provide at least one pro or con. How does Salgado's photojournalistic aesthetic and his approach to global migration highlight current globalization debates concerning homogeneity vs. heterogeneity?