The effect of 9/11 on literature and works of Art Spiegelman - Essay Example

The effect of 9/11 on literature and works of Art Spiegelman On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked 4 airliners and attacked several places in the US. The attacks were carried out the World Trade Center towers, Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. The attacks which are infamously referred to as 9/11 caused many deaths and destruction of property compelling the country to put up initiatives to fight terrorism. The attacks resulted in the death of more than 3,000 people including around 400 police officers and firefighters (Chomsky 4). Many American people believe that “everything” changed after the deadly assault; literature is one of them. Much critical writing has been published on the attacks in the last 13 years. A majority of authors have focused on the trauma linked to the attacks and future measures that will prevent the occurrence of such incidences. About 14 years later after the deadly attacks, there are many works of literature that have come up. Some of these works have compelled readers to not only focus on the events of 9/11 but also the preceding days to understand people and situations around the world. Some of the works have focused on a sense of nostalgia for a period before the terrorists’ event and the good times the country must work hard to reclaim. More than a decade on and it is evident literature has a future because of many stories that keep emerging. Whereas some writers have tackled the tragedy head on, some look at it as a way of asking themselves questions on how to make America safe in the coming days. Some writers have identified the challenges that face the security system and how to make them effective. One of the writers who has written a book that talks about the 9/11 incidence includes Art Spiegelman, who wrote a book entitled "In the Shadow of No Towers.” The book is a masterful and moving explanation of all the events after the attacks and their consequences. “In the Shadow of No Towers” is a book written by American cartoonist Art Spiegelman. The book is about the author’s reaction to the World Trade Center in 2001. Spiegelmans other writings, particularly the Holocaust comic Maus, have been about phenomena that occur outside his comic strip frames. The world around Spiegelman has always appeared on the verge of obliteration that he points out in the satirical book "In the Shadow of No Towers". The award-winning artist writes his experiences and feelings even as the circumstances surrounding the attacks unfolded. The author was a resident of Lower Manhattan, and he was lucky to have witnessed the attack personally. Spiegelman scrambles with his wife to take their two children who were schooling in the nearby school. He spends the next three years preparing the book as he distilled his memories of the tragedy and followed governments response to the disaster. The September 11 incident changed the thoughts and beliefs of Art Spiegelman. He now believes that the world came to an end on September 11, 2001. He thinks that it is only a technicality that people that people are still moving around as they do their businesses. Since Spiegelman witnessed the event, he provides an account of him and his wife trying to locate their two children who were in a nearby school. He jokes “Im not even sure Ill live long enough for cigarettes to kill me” (Spiegelman). He fears that another incident of such magnitude may affect many people him included. The beautifully designed book offers colorful pages with his lamentations about the Bush administration. The terrorist attack on the US land must have enraged Spiegelman. The author believes that the former US President George W. Bush should take responsibility for not protecting America. The author believes that since terrorism was emerging as a new threat to America, the country should have invested heavily in security measures so as to protect the people. He displays his feelings of disturbance, grief, and fury over the horror of the attacks and the Bush administration handling of the situation. Spiegelman is of the opinion that that the President’s administration dealt with the situation so as to serve some political agenda. He draws brilliant images to drive his point home that compels those who do not agree with his opinion to agree. The images coupled with a satirical way of presenting his views make the story good to read. The world has been undergoing some changes in the 21st century. The West realized that there was another threat that was facing it after the incidence of 9/11; the threat is terrorism. The attack on the Pentagon, World Trade Centre, and other targets made America wake up from its slumber and face these challenges. The waking process was first since America changed a lot a few months after that deadly attack. Politicians, policymakers, law enforcers and other stakeholders have come up with measures to safeguard the interests of their country and deal with the issue of terrorism. Authors have also continued to dissect the causes and the effects of the event and look for future solutions. Some authors have even come up with fictional stories that are related to the terrorists event in America. The September 11 incidence has helped to enhance creativity in the minds of contemporary authors and filmmakers. Spiegelman’s book charts the changing memory of the September 11 incident. The book shows how time only broadens the gap between those who can break away from the shadows of the incident and the victims who may not be able to get over what they went through. The September 11 disaster gave Spiegelman an opportunity to inform the public about the weaknesses that exist in the management of the country and how to avoid such weaknesses in the future. The fact that many people agree that Spiegelman wrote the truth about the authority in the period between 2002 and 2003 may make readers be consoled that someone listened to his advice. Many people hope that such incidences may not happen again in the future. Art Spiegelman decided to write the book “In the Shadow of No Towers” because of his love for America and the need to inform people of what conspired at that time. The September 11 incident caused him to sit down and reflect about the future of his country and how to make it a better place to leave. Although the book is full of satire and humor, his gives his side of the story using images that make readers understand his message. Although most of his writings have not been talking about political matters, the 9/11 incident compelled him to talk about political issues and the challenges America is facing. The writer accuses President George W. Bush of not being serious in ensuring that America is safe. Spiegelman manages to write in such a serious manner in a lightly way, something that most writers may not do. The act of terrorists seems to have changed the way he writes and how he approaches that affect the people. When one focuses on literature, one will discover that authors have tried to explain what happened and the circumstances that surrounded the incident. Although some authors such as Art Spiegelman have shifted blame on the leadership, some decided to be nationalist and portrayed America as an unshakable country. The next generation of authors will need to understand the events of 9/11and their effects to the world. The modern generation of writers has a responsibility to shed more light on the tragedy and highlight the steps the country has made towards combating terrorism. The events of September 11 transformed the course of international history and literature of the current century. Works Cited Chomsky, Noam. 9-11: Was There an Alternative? Seven Stories Press, 2011. Spiegelman, Art. In the shadow of no towers. New York, New York: Pantheon Books, 2004. Print. Read More