Having been very young when 9/11 happened, the gravity of that day did not truly take effect until years later. I remember sitting in a classroom and wondering why so many of my classmates were getting taken out of school early. When my turn came around, I was naturally excited. However, this excitement was soon met with confusion once I asked my mom what brought on this (fortunate) early dismissal from school.
I remember my mother’s expression when she tried to explain the tragedy in simple terms for me. For my eight-year-old mind, my largest concern was that my younger brother (who was born a month later) would never be able to see the two towers. I remember the chaos that was each and every supermarket that day as everyone stocked up on the necessities, and expected the worst.
Looking back, I’m glad that I was young enough to grasp some but not all of the aspects of that day. As a child, my biggest frustration was that no channel seemed to be showing cartoons. What good is getting out of school early if you can’t watch cartoons? Alas, most television watching was closely monitored in my house in the month that followed because the doctors felt that if my mother watched the news it would be too much stress for the baby.
There is no doubt that the events of 9/11 changed the perception of many Americans. America was no longer invincible, out of reach, and out of harm. America was now vulnerable, and that was a concept that brought fear to many Americans. Talk of the war on terrorism and a growing feeling of “Islamaphobia” began to fill the nation. Unfortunately, the latter is a sentiment that still fills many Americans with a misplaced sense of hatred and prejudice.
As a New Yorker, I can say without a doubt that 9/11 is a great deal more meaningful to those that live here. While the effects of that day spread not only around the country, but around the world, only an actual New Yorker can say that they witnessed the towers fall that morning. The image of the twin towers was a monumental figure in New York culture, featured in every skyline. After that day, the skyline for those living in the boroughs has an empty space, a gap left by a tragic, tragic event.
Like any event, artists of all trades have worked to portray the trauma of that day. I believe that it is crucial that artists incorporate 9/11 into music, film, exhibits etc. because it is crucial to keep 9/11 in our collective memory. We must never forget the lives that were lost, and the sense of unity that was felt as Americans worked to help those in need during that period of chaos. I think there is great meaning in art dedicated to 9/11 because it represents a moment that is crucial to this nation’s history, and can be analyzed through a variety of perspectives. Art pertaining to 9/11 helps us to establish a greater sense of understanding of the event, rather than settle for complacency.
