WWI Reading-Reflective Response

A few ideas that were presented in my chosen reading (relating to the creation of masks for the WWI soldiers) that were new to me were about how two artists created masks of soldiers’ faces who were seriously deformed to depict their facial features the way they were originally before they were injured in WWI. This was a very new concept to me and I was surprised as to how successful and life changing the masks were to the victims, and how the masks remained in good condition over an extended period of use. Despite the fact that the masks had only one facial expression, it helped boost the veterans’ self esteem, and helped mitigate the feelings of shame, horror, shock and depression by the victims and their families regarding the soldiers’ scarred and deformed faces. The amazing deeds that both Wood and Ladd practiced were so selfless and courageous. Instead of shunning the shattered soldiers, they decided to take a stand to help them benefit from such a despicable tragedy by opening their hearts and utilizing their artwork skills to make a difference for their lives, so the soldiers could heal and recuperate from the war. This unique act of kindness portrays the theme of ‘art coming to life’.
The article lead me to examine the bigger picture of history much differently because when you learn about war, people tend to focus on the what happens to the land, the government that is formed, and the overall well-being of the society that results. We tend to get caught up in the more material issues and forget about looking at the most important aspect of the result of war…the soldiers who fought to make a difference and those who are impacted. We tend to forget about the actual citizens who were involved that risked and sacrificed their own lives for the sake and betterment of others. It isn’t fair and even though war may not always be right or just, we must remember all of the innocent people who placed their lives on hold for the sake of ours by risking all that they had. These people that put their lives on the line for us must live with the painful cold-blooded memories, images, as well as horrible injuries of war for the rest of their lives.
Yes, there are several lessons and/or events of the WWI period that could be applied in a contemporary setting. One major lesson would be that no matter how advanced our medical studies and practices are today, war never changes and it is just as ugly and dangerous as it was almost a century ago. The decapitation of facial features that happened in WWI still occur today and unfortunately there will always be veterans who will have to live with the loss and social burden of their physical as well as their emotional deformities. We could all learn a life lesson from these soldiers as well as from the doctors and artists who helped contribute to making the soldiers’ post-war worlds a little bit more peaceful by returning their self-respect, dignity and confidence they once had. By enhancing the masks that were made, the artists and physicians went against the social norm of society and rather than scowling at the poor hurt soldiers, they aided them with the proper support and self-confidence that they were not able to find on their own. Whether it’s a mask of the past, or plastic surgery of the present, making a difference in the lives of our freedom fighters is an obligation of our society.