Published to
coincide with the 2016 centenary of battle of Mametz wood in the
midst of the countless words currently being written about the First
World War these imagines stand out.
There is an essay
reflecting on them at the end of the book, but the main body is given
over to the imagines – speaking in a way that words fail to do.
Mametz is perhaps an
archetype of the futility of the First World War, significant loss of
life taking yards of ground only to retreat almost as quickly. Within
the wider narrative Mametz is a focal point for the Welsh collective
grief.
Aled Rhys Hughes, in
his foreword, explores what it is to visit these sites, the tension
of mourner come tourist or even voyeur – especially as he
photographs people photographing Dragon memorial (and themselves in
front of it) – we have to acknowledge these differing motivations
but it seems the pressure of social media makes it hard to be
completely in a place – if you haven’t posted a selfie then you
weren’t really there. While an older generation might feel taking a
selfie disrespectful, a younger generation might find not taking a
selfie equally disrespectful.
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