A People's Paper

It was my original intention to highlight a few articles from the Times Picayune to help me analyze both the city, its people, and my experience here. This could have easily been done but through my collection of these articles and my reading of the paper, I came to what I feel is more comprehensive and appropriate approach to analyzing the paper and my experience. The Times-Picayune, to me, is truly a paper of the people. In my life time, the only other part of our country to experience as similar devestation would have to be New York in the aftermath of 9/11. However, it is interesting to note that the terrorist attacks in September of 2001 became not just an attack on NY but also on the entire country. We adopted that catastrophe as our own, as our country's together. The New York Times did not claim the issue or work to tell the stories of the survivors or focus specifically on the coping efforts in the following months and years. Why? They were not alone. The country cried when they cried, felt when they felt, and sincerly went through the healing process along with them. This was and is not the case with Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. In fact, most people, including myself never truly know the story of Katrina until they experience it first hand. The Time-Picayune understands this and seems to represent the city, its people, and the common ties of grief, loss, and survival that bind them all in a unique way. Reading the paper you find articles about rebuilding. You see survivor stories and first hand accounts. Had I read the Times-Picayune prior to coming to this city, I seriously believe that I would have been unable to truly grasp the essence of its articles. This paper seems to capture the feeling, the essence, and the soul of the city and its people.

In a slight change of topic, it is now time to look towards final documentary projects and the culmination of this trip. In brainstorming for this project I have come across a few ideas. It is my intention to focus on the healing of the city, both what has been done and what is needed to be done. To me, a central part of this cities healing is rooted deeply within the arts. Emotions are often expressed better through movement, song, sculpture, art, etc. than they can ever be with the spoken word. It is my opinion that it will be through cultural and artistic endeavours that this city and its people will be able to regain what they once had and it is my intention to somehow tap in to this process.