The quote that struck me the most towards the end of class was "capitalism derealizes familiar objects". This statement matches not only what Benjamin believes the postmodern consists of, but also getting at the roots to better under Lyotard's realism. Especially the quote "the so-called realistic representation can no longer evoke reality except as nostalgia or mockery". To realate it to 9/11, the images that the news played over and over again on 9/11 will always bring us back to the fear that was felt all throughout the world that day, especially for Americans. However, seeing it in repitition, especially years later, creates an illusion and loses the realness it brings to the audiences. We can all agree that we feel patriotic or in Lyotard's words, nostalgia with sympathy remembering those who were lost on that day. As well, as those who have died in the after math of war. But isn't this what our news media does today? It evokes fear in all of us by the use of repitition. The choices made of the imagery shown during a broading is done on purpose to create crisis. By doing so we become glued to it, to this constant state of fear.
This kind of repitition also creates us to not fear the actual event but rather our safety of the future making us even more blinded to our news channels, even though most news is not reality for most people in the world.
But realizing this constant state of fear will enable us to detach ourselves and hopefully put an end to capitalism taking away from realism.
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