Anton Holzer
The electric Eye. Light, Photography and War.
Anton Holzer
Western "enlightenment" versus the "dark" of Islamic fundamentalism: the drama and menace as opposing forces clash. It is a favoured theme in the media at present, judging by recent coverage - and one way to describe the war in Afghanistan. But light is not only a metaphorical concept in modern warfare. It has become a weapon in itself. The sheer capacity to see everything that takes place on "enemy" territory, literally and in minute detail, privileges the opposing side - in this case, America. The present article traces two dimensions of light in modern warfare over the last century, namely searchlights and photography. It explores the concept of military light as twilight - that highlights its targets with stark clarity while plunging the images of its victims into deeper shadow.