The destruction of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in addition to the tragic loss of life also left survivors to sift through the emotional and mental ruins that they found themselves left with.Dower’s argument is that the American academic study was always based upon the elite and powerful individuals that dominated history (Dower 161). Regarding World War Two this immediately brings to mind General Douglas McArthur, Emperor Hirohito, and President Truman, however, the he argues that experiences and perspective of everyday citizens had not yet become a course of study. The journal of Dr. Michihiko Hachiya is the primary source that Dower refers to throughout the course of his argument that the experiences like Dr. Hachiya are critical to the study of history. Serlin focuses his work upon the victims themselves as being the Hiroshima maidens. I would say that both of their arguments are similar in the sense that they focus upon the what I would consider the voices and writing of the common people. Unlike the powerful individuals that Dower mentions, these individuals did not explicitly plan on sharing or publishing their experiences, “The diary speaks to the human heart and human condition, and does so without artifice, for it was not intended to be published” (Dower 162). I would argue that this personal accounts make them much more valuable as it shows the intimate and personal thinking during their period of suffering or hardship. Even then, we are shown glimmers of hope from the ashes and dismay of the survivors which I think is the most important aspect. Whether this was a physical reconstruction through surgery or architecture or constructing a new emotional and cultural national identity both were critical for survivors of Hiroshima. Making sense and recovering from this period of confusion and hopelessness was what survivors recorded in their own experiences.
Dower and Serlin both have the perspective that reconstruction was not necessarily as wonderful as Americans remember it. For the Japanese it was sorting through the physical and emotional carnage that Fat Man and Little Boy wrought upon the Japanese people at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The idea of “heroic narrative…” and the … “the good war” are directly challenged by those who had to live in the squalor and misery in the aftermath of the bombs (Dower 163). Dower introduces the idea of Kyodatsu being the “overall state of demoralization and psychological prostration” and in this collapsed state of national identity the common people were left to build their own identity either within their own community or with help from abroad.
Dower did a good job of recognizing that American’s censored a great deal of information regarding the bombings “from late 1945 until 1952 Japanese medical researchers were prohibited by U.S. occupation authorities from publishing scientific articles on the effect of the atomic bomb (Dower 167). I thought the articles about the Hiroshima maidens was interesting but it was hard to focus over the course of the reading as I believed it to ramble on during most of the reading.
The images I chose are paintings by survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and can be found in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Like Dower and Serlin’s articles, these paintings reflect the vivid and horrific memories that the survivors have branded within their minds. While these articles are well written without a doubt, I would argue these articles pale in comparison to these visual representations in terms of conveying the loss and despair that Kyodatsu entailed. I hope that artwork of this kind will never have to be replicated as it serves as a warning how many were and still trying to make sense of the carnage that were the atomic bombings. Kyodatsu signified this period of reconstructing and interpreting the environment they now found themselves in.
I thought it was interesting and informative how you used art to be a major contributor in your blog to show the pain that was a result of dropping the bomb on Hiroshima. It provides a different perspective to the reader. I think it is a great way of getting your point across.
I loved how you touched on the personal writings. I feel like when we read bulk articles or we think about rehabilitation after the war, we automatically lean toward the top down viewpoints. I think personal writings give so much perspective on the actual problems and in remembering them as real people. Your use of pictures is spot on.
First of all, I would like to commend you on your choice of visual aides. I truly thought they enhanced my experience on a historical level and I must acknowledge your clear expertise in this matter. Now this is just a thought, but I would like to see you develop your ideas on the images more. As of now they serve to enhance the subject, but writing towards them could take you to the next level. I also think that it is interesting that the Japanese went through a complete mental shift following their surrender. Days before the white flag was raised, many would have committed their lives to defending their nation, but with the collapse of the emperor’s power, many were simply lost in the ruins of both their homes and their minds. Keep on blogging warrior-scholar.
I wonder who asked the survivors to paint what they remember from the blast. They are some very interesting depictions of the bomb’s effects. It is also interesting to learn that the U.S censored research of the bomb’s effects after they were used.