Connection Across Time- Technology/Techniques

Though the common reason for why we study history is so that we learn from history's past, I've come to realize that a lot of things are repeated. Usually we like to point out the negative things that are often repeated, but in this case, I would like to point out what seems to be the positive advances of the technology used in WWI (note that I am not saying they are positive because that kill people or are used in war but that they represent technological and scientific advances and a greater understanding/ learning of objects). One thing that made in appearance in WWI was the tank, reaching speeds up to a whopping 4 mph. Today, tanks are reaching speeds anywhere up to about 43 mph (http://www.yourdiscovery.com/greatest_ever/tanks/index.shtml). Though this may not seem like much, keep in mind that that's over 10 times as fast as their ancestor tanks.

(http://www.peachmountain.com/5star/Tanks_Patton_Tanks_M32_tank.aspx)

Next, and probably most popular we look to bombs. We know that by WWII the atom bomb was created. Before the atom bomb, bombs were simply dynamite. Now thanks to the greater understanding of the physical nature of the atom, we have atomic bombs. However just like Einstein, (the creator of the structure and nature of the atomic bomb) my excitement in the atomic bomb is merely out of the wonders of this advancement, not for the deaths of people.

(http://ceoworld.biz/ceo/2009/12/22/top-10-military-technology-achievements-that-changed-the-face-of-war)

Last, we can look at the advancement of the planes used today versus the planes used in WWI.

(http://www.aviation-central.com/1914-1918/aca60.htm)
(http://dummidumbwit.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/northrop-grumman-b-2-spirit/)

The plane on the left is an example of the planes used in WWI. As you can tell, these planes were rather large, and probably noisy due to the propeller on the front end. These planes were mainly used for spying though they did occasionally get involved in fights as with the famous Red Baron. Next we look to the plane on the left. It is know as a stealth bomber, which, as you can guess, was stealthy and bombed places/people/things. We discussed these planes in my AP Physics class and what is neat about them is that their paint is actually undetectable on radar so the enemy would never be able to know where these planes were unless they were to be in the sky following one. They also fly above the clouds so they could not be spotted on land either. Of course this paint and technology was not available to the plane builders of WWI so these planes would go on noticeable.

I find it fascinating that such things can be done. It always amazes me that people think of things like atomic reactions versus dynamite and undetectable paint coating. If these things can be done in less than a century, imagine what we can expect for the future!

Verwundeter Wounded soldier - Autumn 1916- Otto Dix

I chose another Otto Dix painting because of all the paintings I've seen while researching WWI art, his show the most passion and true essence of the horrors of WWI. As we already know from class, trench warfare was a big part of fighting in WWI. Many people died and suffered in the trenches and it was an all around gruesome experience. I felt that this picture best displayed the idea of trench warfare. If someone who knows nothing about trench warfare were to see this picture, they would immediately know just how horrible this experience would be. Just by the expression of the person' s face we can tell that he is miserable. His skinny body shows that he was starved and we could also guess dying. This becomes even more sad because most (if not all) cultures have some sort of proper burial rituals for their dead loved ones, whereas, this person in left to die here in the dirt and mud. I find it interesting that Dix chose to do this painting in black and white when so many of his other paintings are full of color. I believe he chose to do this to express the dismal feeling and accentuate the feeling of death. Though we may never know what it really feels like to be suffering in a war like this, we can feel the emotions these people must have felt through artwork like that of Otto Dix.

(http://cs.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=128588)

Masques à gaz (Gas Masks)-Henri de Groux

I felt it fitting to blog on the gassing because not only was it used in WWI but we see it again in WWII with the idea of gas chambers to kill people in the Holocaust. This idea gives us a small taste of the real impact of WWI on the world, because as we know, WWI left a legacy that changed the world. Also, the "ending" of WWI was built only on quicksand.
Every time we talk about being killed by gas or I see a picture like this, I get chills thinking about how it must feel to die this way. Not only did it cut off your oxygen supply, but often times it burned your skin, eyes, and/or esophagus or trachea. I couldn't imagine even the thought of death let alone a painful, suffering as you're dying. Though most of us just brush of thinking of dying in such a manor, the harsh reality is that it happened. Not just to one person, but probably millions over the course of the two world wars. To know that these painful, gruesome devices can survive between two world wars leaves me worried because it could very well be used today if another Holocaust were to break out. The sad truth about being gassed is that none of us could see it coming either since it can go unseen and sometimes undetected through smell either. At the time it may have seemed like these new scientific and technological advances were a good idea but they have left massive scars on the Earth's population.
When I stumbled upon this picture I also found a summary/criticism that came with it and it pointed out that the people in this painting were portrayed as animalistic. I find it interesting that the people would be viewed this way because in society we see killing each other as barbaric, but in the animal world, killing another of their own kind is merely survival of the fittest. This is also the main idea of Social Darwinism where through survival of the fittest, only the best "breed" will be left standing. With this I thought of Adolph Hitler and his idea of erasing the earth of those that were not perfect to leave only the best "breed" of people standing. This is a "good call" by Henri de Groux (the artist of this painting) in my eyes because if he had intended for the people in this picture to be animalistic, then he was very successful at seeing into the true animal nature of humans, thus leaving us with something to ponder with about ourselves....

(http://www.art-ww1.com/gb/texte/020text.html)

Otto Dix, Lichtsignale (The Flare), 1917

In order to get a feel for paintings of WWI i decided to search and browse random paintings of that time. I noticed a lot of artwork from Otto Dix, but I was drawn to this painting. At first glance, it jumps out as a violent and graphic image. Though it is simpler in terms of detail, I thought it resembled the horrors of the war the best through its color. In general, red resembles things like death and evil which is fitting for this situation since there is obviously death in a war. Most people would argue that war is definitely an evil thing since we become barbaric creatures by killing and fighting. Also, wrath is one of the seven deadly sins. Next I thought about the greens and yellows and how those tend to resemble nature and calmness. It adds a contrast to the red while also possibly explaining a little bit about the artist. Dix chose to use these colors on the the images of the people who seem to be in horror or dying. Though one may think that that should be painted red, I choose to see it as a new beginning for those dying people. While the reds are flaring in the background, they are green and yellow showing the decay of their bodies into nature as well as their souls heading toward a more peaceful realm- possibly heaven. Since the people were drawn in white, one can assume that they were just innocent citizens. White often resembles purity innocence and blankness. These people have done nothing wrong and are just victims in this situation. Now with this war, they become blank/ nothing. Last, I thought of how this painting was done in a chaotic manor which can tell a couple things. First it shows the intensity of the violence of war. Next, it shows the carelessness of fighting through the carelessness of order in the painting. Last, it displays violence in the way the painting seems to be just thrown into one and chaotically put together.

(http://www.art-ww1.com/gb/texte/091text.html)

Treaty of Versailles

I couldn't help but find the Treaty of Versailles somewhat humerus in that this big world war was all solved through meetings in a childish manor. To me, all the powers of the world decided to meet in one spot and exclude Germany because Germany was mean. Even though Germany had not really started the war, the whole war was Germany's fault so she couldn't be invited to the party. On top of that, the other countries decided to make her pay for all that she "caused." They made her feel guilty, took some of her land, and restricted her army. Meanwhile, at this meeting, only the cool kids (France, Great Britain, and the United States) could control what went on. Even though the other "loser" countries, who helped with the war effort, (Italy and Japan) got to say what they wanted, they really had no input into this treaty and what they could gain from it. This got me to thinking that in reality, our world is in control, as a whole, by the most powerful countries of the time being. The most powerful countries are the "popular kids" and as long as they stay that way, they will have control and influence over the world. Also, it makes me sad to think that serious events like wars and treaties can be compared to the simple minds of stereotypical high school students.

3/25 Class Discussion- Trench Warfare

Usually in history classes we brush over the main events and battles, but today, while talking about trench warfare, reality set in for me. When I think of war i think of who fought who and who won. Even though we discuss casualties, I do not think about the actuality of the violence that goes on. Since we've been studying history since we were kids, it has always come off to me as some sort of sports match. However, today while we talked about and looked at images of trench warfare, it actually hit me how extreme and ugly these battles and wars are. I began to think about how it would feel to live in the trenches for a week, let alone a few years. People literally lived in dirt and mud while bullets and bombs would be going off outside their "window." If you weren't killed by a bullet or gas, you could be killed by infection or illness. All the while your family is back home and all you have is your dirt covered bed and maybe some water. It was at this point I realized that we talk about war all the time but we hardly realize the extremity of every persons situation. We constantly talk about people's war tactics but we never think to put ourselves in a soldiers shoes and imagine what it would be like to spend 4 years of your life in war.
I was also talking with a friend about comparing the "shot heard around the world" with the "shot that reverberated Europe" and one thing we talked about was the length of the wars they caused. We discovered that WWI lasted about 4 years and the American Revolution Lasted 8 years and my first response was "wow the American Revolution lasted 8 years!" At that my friend said, "Yeah WWI ONLY lasted 4 years." At that moment I had another reality check. In comparison to the American Revolution, WWI was only 4 years but in reality, 4 years is a long time. In 4 years I've managed to start high school, take numerous tests, play numerous soccer games, visit colleges, get accepted to college, get a job, quit a job, and map out the rest of my life. During the time it took me to do that, a war could have been going on and in that war, millions of people could have died, and students would not have had the opportunity to accomplish what I have accomplished. Even though it seems like "only 4 years," imagine putting your life on pause for 4 years. Imagine looking out your window for 4 years and all people are talking and working for is war. 4 years of life could turn into 4 years of total war. It is these realizations that make me thankful for the life I have where I can just sit in my AP European History class and learn a thing or two while earning my 1.0 credit toward advancing my studies to a higher education that I am able to achieve while I am not lying in a trench.