I’m back from my travels in Northern Thailand (more on that later). My re-entry day involves A Day of Autism … which might mean going for a long walk, but usually means just watching TV or going to the movies. Today I watched the Olympics and reveled in what it means to be a virtuoso of the body and senses (a distant cousin to being a travel photographer).
I decided to take a break from the exhausting physical exertion of the Olympics to watch The Hurt Locker.
The first words on screen are “War is a Drug“.
I gasped; stopped the movie and thought about this. I was dangerously close to becoming a current event photographer. But I was scared. No, not of combat or unknown harsh humanity; but of the potential addiction to feeling “acutely aware on the razor edge of death”. I was a climber, kayaker, and mountaineer…so this was an obvious allure–a kind of photographic Olympics to the next deadly level. I pulled back from the allure of those intense endorphins. Yet, the thought still makes me gasp.
So it begs the question: Are photojournalist/war photographers in two categories? Ones who want to make a difference (but do they have the skills to survive)? Or, ones who thrive on risk yet have the skills to survive brutal adversity (but still need the empathy?). Or, as I believe, the best possess it all, and then they must also be maestros of photography.
Downhill skiing seems much simpler at this moment.
Back to the The Hurt Locker.. and it is only a movie… but it brings up very real feelings.
Nevada Wier Photography 
15 comments
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March 5, 2010 at 8:44 am
Cindi Riddle
I have friends all over the world living and working in war zones by choice. They choose to be there. They have many different professions. Docotres, Nurse,Teachers, Humanitarian workes of many kinds and yes, even photojournalist. To add to this list my oldest Son just passed his written and physical exams and has been excepted into the Air Force Parea reascue men training. These men are the elite of the Air Force. They are the ones who go behind enemy lines when we have troops down and provide on the field immediate medical care and rescue.
There motto “SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE” which is my whole point. Yes, there is definitely adrenaline. But for those who live and work in war zones its really about “so that others may live” there is nothing glamours about war. However, there is something truely powerful about helping people who cannot help themselves and whatever that may cost us personally, is of our own choosing.
Run to the battle!
Cindi
March 4, 2010 at 11:37 pm
nevada wier
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-hastings/emthe-hurt-lockerem-and-w_b_486463.html
March 5, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Cindi Riddle
What about the quote from former war correspondent Chris Hedges book ” War is a force that gives us meaning” hmm that gives me something to think about. Thanks for sharing this article and your thoughts Nevada.
I also think that ones own personal experiences help create what brings an adrenaline situation. For example I have a son who has seizures. So for the last 23 yr’s, him, having seizure activety is our “normal” it does not cause me to freak out and call an ambulance and go into an adrenaline run. For other it would. But because of my life experiences and training it does not. (That is not to say I am not alert and doing what is needed)
With my other Son who is going to become a para rescue man. They spend two very intense years of trainging in all kinds of high intensity high adrenaline situations and scenarios so they are ready to deal with whatever comes there way. Preparation is they key for the adrenaline that flows in that moment.
So I said all that to say our own personal life experiences can not only dictate what gives us an adrenaline run but also how we did with that run.
February 27, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Erica
I completely agree. I’m an RN, but moved away from the world of code blues and STATS nearly 10 years ago. I still work frequently in various hospital settings and even after all these years when I hear a hospital operator announce a code blue alert (or any other alert indicating a need for all hands on deck) I STILL feel the rush of adrenaline and my feet instantly prepare to jump and run. If we view these chemical reactions as drugs (adrenaline works like epinephrine) then it truly gives us a drug-like physical response.
War may not be a drug, but the way our bodies respond to it certainly explains why so many of those on the front-lines come home to become police officers or work in other fields where they are still on the front lines.
March 2, 2010 at 8:37 am
nevada wier
Thank you Erica. This is a exactly the point I was musing on. Nevada
March 2, 2010 at 11:14 am
kalani
i understood the point and why hollywood propagandists would put a quote like that in a movie. but what about how civilians react to war? you think they get addicted to the rush of being attacked? or victims of crimes and assault for that matter. “war is a drug” seems very narrow minded for such a general statement the more i think about it.
March 4, 2010 at 8:02 am
nevada wier
Kalani: You are always wonderfully provocative! I doubt war victims or any victims would want to be addicted to punishment. I do know that their adrenaline would be pumping. Certainly “war is a drug” is a limited statement. It just led me to a personal thought, a tidbit thought, about photographers. However, your comments are expanding that tidbit in a much more interesting musing. Thank you, Nevada
February 23, 2010 at 8:17 am
kalani
what about the primal animalistic urge to love each other? care for our children? nobody ever talks about that side of human nature. our need for understanding and compassion. or our natural ability to be creative and discover. wars trained, especially in todays day and age. its not a seriois question anyway, its a question of metaphorical use of language. the points made with a little bit of artistic license. i just read too much endorphins can lead to mental disorders like autism, i thought it was ironic heh.
February 23, 2010 at 12:58 pm
nevada wier
See that’s my problem … too much endorphins!
February 22, 2010 at 10:07 am
kalani
for mainstream media in the past maybe they were adrenalime junkies. now they send them out in groups to safe areas and theres not as much cantakerousness going on as there was during the activist period. stories like geraldo helping a man down a flight of stairs in iraq while 10 troops stand along the wall wondering why this crazy guy is in their way.
if you go to third world countries where atrocities happen on a daily basis like amy goodman did in east timor, or the priests in latin america that got assassinated for bringing attention to state sponsored terrorism and trying to organize the victims against it. or like robert fisk in the middle east…. well the severe beatings or permanent pacification they recieved, and their work speaks for itself. they had to have the ability to endure and be maestros of their craft.
i dunno if war or violence is a drug like action sports. theres a level of risk in climbing, kayaking, etc. but its extremely rare people die or get hurt competing in those sports and everyone hugs after especially in the spirit of the olympics. with war or violence, who lives or dies is uncertain. which is why decent people dont succumb to war or violence.
February 22, 2010 at 6:12 pm
nevada wier
Kalani: All good points, and I agree. True, much of the media is controlled in a war zone but it still takes a special person (Geraldo aside) who wants to put themselves in troubled zones, and I don’t just mean where the bombs are falling. I do think it is a kind of drug, since it can be addictive. I think it is healthier to be addicted to endorphins produced by sports than war zones though. However, I applaud the efforts of the brave photographers and humanitarians who risk their lives to produce meaningful stories (even if there aren’t the platforms for them as there used to be).
February 22, 2010 at 11:08 pm
kalani
war itself isnt a drug. war is getting people to kill each other. i dont think putting yourself in a situation where you have no control if you live or not so you can record other people dying (or be in the area of people dying) regularly can be an addiction. its insanity unless you can justify it. the only justification i can think of is to stop further violence. its all a distraction i think tho from remembering history and why conflicts started in the first place. people watching and blaming “so and so” for being so violent and cruel, instead of realizing they got to a position of power through mass support. like hitler, suharto, milosevic, ceaucescu, bush. its happening right now, obamas sending more troops to afghanistan and medias beating the war drums against iran. we let it happen then put the blame on the murderous dictator or get distracted with things like ‘war being a drug’ tossing all the facts aside. thats really remarkable.
February 23, 2010 at 12:14 am
nevada wier
I love your comments. A good discussion warms my heart; I wish it was in person. War is not a actually a drug… but it does release endorphins which can be addictive and therefore War is a Drug for many, especially for those who thrive on the fight. I’m not talking about justification. I agree with you… there is none, from my perspective. I am talking about primal animalistic urges that often rule men (and sometimes women, but mostly men). And, it should be anachronistic by now. I wish it was. Our intellects should be in more control, but they aren’t. I am just acknowledging the baser qualities of my nature.
February 22, 2010 at 1:32 am
Mark M
I don’t know the answer to your question, but I instantly recognized the ‘day of autism’ as something I also do, but I have never really articulated as such. What a great way to phrase that. I remember reading in a biography of Ludwig Wittgenstein that he would decompress by watching westerns.
February 22, 2010 at 6:13 pm
nevada wier
I fear my Day of Autism is becoming Two Days of Autism…