12:05:12 PM Avagene Moore:Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Classroom! ... 12:05:23 PM Avagene Moore:We are pleased that our topic today, Popular Culture of Disasters, gave us the opportunity to invite subscribers to a mail list that has been set up for a discussion of the same topic. ... 12:05:33 PM Avagene Moore:Gary Webb, Ph.D., is here to lead our discussion --- Gary is currently a post-doctoral research fellow at the Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware. ... 12:05:43 PM Avagene Moore:He recently completed a Ph.D., specializing in disaster research and collective behavior. ... 12:05:56 PM Avagene Moore:His dissertation looked at individual and organizational response to natural disasters, technological emergencies, and civil disturbances. Currently, he is focusing his research interests on the popular culture of disaster. ... 12:06:05 PM Avagene Moore:After Gary completes his remarks, we will give you brief instructions for keeping order for Q&A. ... 12:06:13 PM Avagene Moore:Gary, we are pleased to have you with us today. I will turn the floor to you now. 12:06:20 PM Gary Webb:Thanks, Avagene 12:06:31 PM Gary Webb:Good morning and welcome again to our roundtable discussion. 12:06:42 PM Gary Webb:Today, we're going to talk about the popular culture of disaster, an area which I think is very interesting and important, but not well-understood. 12:06:54 PM Gary Webb:In fact, I'm not even sure what exactly the popular culture of disaster is, but hopefully by the end of today's session we'll all have a clearer sense of what it means. 12:07:05 PM Gary Webb:Let me begin by talking very briefly about how today's session will be organized. 12:07:16 PM Gary Webb:Basically, I'll talk for about fifteen minutes, providing a fairly broad overview of the topic, then I'd like to open the room for a lively discussion. 12:07:27 PM Gary Webb:During the discussion portion of today's session, please feel free to ask me (or others) questions about the topic, offer any thoughts you have on it, or share some of your experiences with the popular culture of disaster. 12:07:38 PM Gary Webb:Because very little has been done on this topic, at this stage we're simply trying to get a handle on what all is out there. Therefore, any experiences you can share will help us do that. 12:07:50 PM Gary Webb:Now, I'd like to tell you a little bit about how I'm going to organize my remarks today. 12:07:59 PM Gary Webb:Slide 1, please 12:08:02 PM Avagene Moore:http://www.emforum.org/vclass/gw1.htm 12:08:11 PM Gary Webb:As you can see on slide 1, I'll cover four areas in today's discussion. 12:08:21 PM Gary Webb:First, I'll talk generally about what the popular culture of disaster is. Although I won't offer a precise definition, I will give you some sense of what's thought (tentatively) to be included under the term. 12:08:32 PM Gary Webb:Then, I'll discuss some of the reasons why the popular culture of disaster exists. As we'll see, however, explaining why it exists depends to a great extent on how we define it. 12:08:43 PM Gary Webb:Third, I'll talk very briefly about why I think this is an important topic to consider. 12:08:56 PM Gary Webb:And finally, I'll briefly describe some of the things we're doing to generate interest and solicit input on the topic-- this discussion being one of those activities. 12:09:06 PM Gary Webb:What is the popular culture of disaster? 12:09:16 PM Gary Webb:On the surface, this might seem like a fairly simple or straightforward question, but as with most things, it's not quite that simple. 12:09:26 PM Gary Webb:First, by answering this question, we're assuming we know the answers to two related questions: 1) what is popular culture? and 2) what is a disaster? 12:09:37 PM Gary Webb:In terms of the latter, at a recent conference twelve researchers from six different countries were asked to respond to the question, what is a disaster? 12:09:50 PM Gary Webb:The diversity of answers given was quite interesting and quite confusing! 12:10:02 PM Gary Webb:Although we're not completely sure at this point what all falls under the popular culture of disaster, I think many of us have had enough experience with it to have at least a general understanding of what it means. 12:10:15 PM Gary Webb:For example, some of you may have seen, in the field or in the media, the slogans that people in disaster-stricken communities spray paint on their homes or businesses, which convey messages of hope or promises to eliminate looters! 12:10:27 PM Gary Webb:Slides 2 and 3, please 12:10:30 PM Avagene Moore:(Should have told our new people that you can click on the live URLs and see Gary's slides in your browser window.) http://www.emforum.org/vclass/gw2.htm 12:10:39 PM Avagene Moore:http://www.emforum.org/vclass/gw3.htm 12:10:44 PM Gary Webb:As another illustration, take a look at the cartoons in slides 2 and 3. 12:11:01 PM Gary Webb:Notice how each cartoon blends images of disasters with other popular themes. 12:11:19 PM Gary Webb:As a youngster growing up in Texas, I remember wearing a T-shirt that proclaimed proudly, "I survived the Texas heat wave!" 12:11:32 PM Gary Webb:And I'm sure that many of you have seen at least some of those classic (and recent) disaster movies-- Earthquake, Twister, Volcano, Dante's Peak, Deep Impact, etc. 12:11:42 PM Gary Webb:(For a list and reviews of some of these cinema not-so-greats, check out the links on the background page for this session.) 12:11:58 PM Gary Webb:While we can't define precisely what the popular culture of disaster is, we can say with some confidence that certain things are included in it. 12:12:08 PM Gary Webb:Slide 4, please 12:12:11 PM Avagene Moore:http://www.emforum.org/vclass/gw4.htm 12:12:18 PM Gary Webb:Slide 4 provides a preliminary list of things that should be considered under the popular culture of disaster, at least for now. 12:12:33 PM Gary Webb:As you can see, the list of items ranges from disaster jokes and humor to on-site graffiti to disaster movies. 12:12:45 PM Gary Webb:The next step is to begin exploring the similarities and differences between these various cultural products, and trying to develop explanations for why they exist. 12:12:58 PM Gary Webb:Let's turn now for a minute to this last question-- why is there a popular culture of disaster? 12:13:09 PM Gary Webb:Slide 5, please 12:13:11 PM Avagene Moore:http://www.emforum.org/vclass/gw5.htm 12:13:21 PM Gary Webb:Slide 5 presents some potential explanations, but it seems to me that the answer to this question will largely depend on how we define the topic. 12:13:39 PM Gary Webb:For example, if we focus narrowly on jokes, some research suggests that emergency response workers often use humor as a coping strategy. 12:13:51 PM Gary Webb:T-shirts and on-site graffiti may serve to enhance solidarity and morale among emergency responders and the broader disaster-impacted community. 12:14:03 PM Gary Webb:Recently, a psychologist interviewed on a local news channel suggested that disaster movies are flourishing because we're all a bunch of thrill-seekers living vicariously through spectacular Hollywood special effects. 12:14:15 PM Gary Webb:(Remember the cow flying across the road in Twister!) 12:14:27 PM Gary Webb:Finally, let's not forget that there is a profit motive for at least some aspects of the popular culture of disaster. 12:14:40 PM Gary Webb:Having talked generally about what the popular culture of disaster is and why it exists, let's talk briefly about why it's an important topic to consider. 12:14:54 PM Gary Webb:It's interesting that disasters are commonly thought to be unusual and extremely disruptive events, yet images of disaster figure prominently into popular culture. 12:15:06 PM Gary Webb:(Though I should underscore here the crucial importance of cross-cultural comparisons as we begin to explore this topic.) 12:15:18 PM Gary Webb:To some extent, then, popular images of disaster are likely to shape our knowledge about disasters and how we respond to them. 12:15:29 PM Gary Webb:It is extremely important, therefore, that we understand how disasters are represented in popular culture and the effects this representation has on people's knowledge and response. 12:15:42 PM Gary Webb:Let me close by saying a few words about what we're doing to generate and sustain interest in this topic. 12:15:53 PM Gary Webb:Today's session is an important first step in that direction, so I'd like to thank Avagene and Amy at EIIP for providing us the time and space to talk about this topic. 12:16:04 PM Gary Webb:Also, we've created a Popular Culture of Disaster electronic mailing list. Let me know if you'd like to be included on it (my email is gwebb@udel.edu). 12:16:15 PM Gary Webb:Wolf Dombrowsky, a sociologist in Germany, has offered to create a popular culture of disaster web site-- details forthcoming. 12:16:28 PM Gary Webb:And finally, we're trying to get research sessions at upcoming professional meetings like next summer's Hazards Research and Applications Workshop. 12:16:37 PM Gary Webb:On that note, I'd like to open the room to discussion. 12:16:43 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, Gary. If you wish to ask a question or make a comment, please submit a question mark (?) to the screen; compose your question or comment and wait to be recognized by the moderator before sending to the chat screen. First question or comment, please. 12:16:57 PM CBRubin:? 12:17:01 PM clifford hagen:? 12:17:02 PM Avagene Moore:Claire. 12:17:33 PM CBRubin:Are you interested in how accurate the media portray events? Correcting misconceptions? 12:17:55 PM Gary Webb:That's a very good and important question... 12:18:10 PM Gary Webb:and certainly that should be one of the more important reasons... 12:18:18 PM Gary Webb:why we would explore this topic... 12:18:25 PM Gary Webb:Just a brief side note... 12:18:26 PM DAVE MCALLISTER:? 12:18:29 PM CBRubin:? 12:18:35 PM Gary Webb:Recently... 12:18:46 PM Gary Webb:some movie screenwriters visited DRC... 12:18:58 PM Gary Webb:about making a movie about an EQ in New York city! 12:19:11 PM Avagene Moore:Clifford, your question or comment, please. 12:19:45 PM clifford hagen:Is it not more the communmity and members of the community that create the popular culture of the disaster and if so does the media really influence the messgae 12:20:10 PM Gary Webb:Another very good question... 12:20:30 PM Gary Webb:which highlights the importance of defining what we're looking at... 12:20:52 PM Gary Webb:certainly big Hollywood movies are only one aspect of pop culture... 12:21:01 PM elaine enarson:? 12:21:11 PM Gary Webb:but the more localized post-impact products are also important. 12:21:20 PM Dolores D:Mr. Webb, I publish http:///www.horsereview.com and I would like to publish your materials in our disaster section. 12:21:21 PM Avagene Moore:Dave, you are next. 12:21:26 PM DAVE MCALLISTER:I think there's a therapeutic reason for some cultural expressions of disasters, too, such as when children do artwork or write personal stories that are bound in a book and distributed to community members who have experienced a bad disaster, such as a flood or tornado. Kids in Ada, MN, did a great job on this after the 1997 floods. 12:21:47 PM Gary Webb:Dave, absolutely. 12:22:01 PM Avagene Moore:Claire, again. 12:22:06 PM CBRubin:Years ago, some work was done on this topic; there is a publication on this topic at Univ. Colorado's Natural Hazards Center 12:22:28 PM Gary Webb:Good... 12:22:43 PM Gary Webb:we're currently compiling an annotated bibliography on the subject. 12:22:48 PM Avagene Moore:Elaine, your question or comment. 12:22:55 PM ggow:? 12:23:15 PM clifford hagen:? 12:23:34 PM elaine enarson:Thanks for getting us started, Gary. I'm the organizer of a session on pop culture and dis for the Hazards conference in July--an organizer in search of presenters. What are the most significant points we'd want to make to practitioners, and how? 12:24:00 PM Gary Webb:Elaine, that's a very important question.... 12:24:10 PM Gary Webb:one that will definitely require more attention... 12:24:17 PM Gary Webb:than my slow typing skills will allow.. 12:24:26 PM Gary Webb:however... 12:24:52 PM Gary Webb:I do think that two points already made should be considered... 12:25:02 PM elaine enarson:? 12:25:14 PM Gary Webb:1. media portrayals of disaster are often inaccurate and can have disastrous consequences of their own... 12:25:34 PM Gary Webb:and 2. there may be an important therapeutic component to much of this. 12:25:38 PM Avagene Moore:Gordon (ggow), you are next. (Hope I remembered your name correctly.) 12:25:46 PM ggow:Another interesting area may be in the popular uptake of scientific knowledge (such as El Nino), and how that forms popular perceptions around disasters .... 12:25:50 PM Dolores D:DBeaugez 12:26:10 PM ggow:I'm thinking about a book by Andrew Ross, called "Strange Weather" anyone know of it? 12:26:32 PM Gary Webb:ggow, also think about the Iben Browning EQ prediction in Tennessee 12:26:46 PM Avagene Moore:Clifford, you have another comment or question. 12:27:00 PM Dolores D:? 12:27:21 PM clifford hagen:sorry bypass me for a second 12:27:32 PM Avagene Moore:Elaine, you are next. 12:28:50 PM Avagene Moore:Elaine, are you still with us? 12:29:08 PM Amy Sebring:? 12:29:48 PM elaine enarson:More than therapeutic, too. I see women's disaster quilts, for example, as a way of (forgive the tired metaphor) restiching the social fabric. I just saw a terrific quilt from the Red River flood, including humorous and heart-rending quilt blocks, all constructed with fabric donated from other quilting guilds around the nation. Social relationships were reinforce, reinstated, renewed through this creative work. 12:30:13 PM Gary Webb:Elaine... 12:30:26 PM clifford hagen:? 12:30:27 PM Gary Webb:that's a great example...and also... 12:30:40 PM Gary Webb:it points out limitations of words like "therapeutic"... 12:31:00 PM Gary Webb:I was really thinking something more social along those lines. 12:31:02 PM Avagene Moore:Dee, you are next please. 12:31:23 PM Dolores D:Do you have any suggestions for a writer who's been hired to write about a true equine rescue? 12:31:36 PM Gary Webb:Wow... 12:31:41 PM Gary Webb:that's a tough one...anyone? 12:32:02 PM Gil Gibbs:! 12:32:17 PM bruce c hildebrand:What about the consideration of the role of people with disabilities in disaster? That is, the effects of disasters on them, their contributions to preparing for disasters, and finally how this all is reflected in popular cultures? 12:32:27 PM Avagene Moore:Amy, please submit your question or comments? 12:32:33 PM Amy Sebring:It may be a whole 'nuther research question, but I think ideas about disaster are deeply ingrained into the major religions as well, and understanding that aspect may also be useful. 12:33:02 PM Marilyn Barker:? 12:33:06 PM Amy Sebring:Do expect to include 12:33:16 PM Gary Webb:Amy... 12:33:21 PM elaine enarson:? 12:33:33 PM Gary Webb:that's a good question and one that a Professor at DRC, Russell Dynes, is considering. 12:33:40 PM Gary Webb:bruce... 12:33:47 PM Gary Webb:you raise an excellent issue... 12:33:55 PM Gary Webb:and I would argue that not just in this area... 12:34:22 PM Gary Webb:but most disaster research excludes (to a great extent) consideration of those with disabilities. 12:34:28 PM Avagene Moore:Clifford, your question please. 12:34:32 PM clifford hagen:Along the same lines as elaines statment were have found in our research that the use of pupular culture although be it on a larger level than community was an avenue to regain the ethos and bonds of pre disaster community so the means of distribution was broad but the end product was used intimately by the community itself 12:35:27 PM Avagene Moore:Gil, did you want to submit a question or comment? Not sure by the exclamation mark you submitted. 12:35:51 PM elaine enarson:I'm glad you see the point, which escaped my teenaged son. He thinks pop culture can only be 'plastic or shiny' and from the east or west coast. Is there any point in narrowly defining our subject at this point? I'd like to add clothing to your list and graffiti. (I may have missed this conversation as I came in late--sorry. My screen is not scrolling).. 12:36:09 PM Gary Webb:Clifford...I'd like to hear more about your research. 12:36:13 PM Gary Webb:Elaine... 12:36:22 PM clifford hagen:? 12:36:25 PM Gary Webb:indeed we are advocating a very general or broad definition at this point... 12:36:35 PM Gil Gibbs:I was remembring some TV sequences of actual rescues of animals, and it amazed me that they were just as concerned about them as people who were in just as great a danger! 12:36:42 PM Gary Webb:and indeed one of my examples was my old, "I survived the Texas heat wave" t-shirt! 12:36:51 PM Avagene Moore:Clifford. 12:36:59 PM Tom Thornton:i see this preoccupation with disaster as nothing "new", it's our technology that propels it deeper into our lives. stories of shipwrecks were all the rage, tales of famine in the bible, it is our own cultures desensitization as a whole that gives us this. any comment?? 12:37:08 PM clifford hagen:Gary we have conducted research on graffiti after the flood of the red river in grand forks and east grand forks 12:37:31 PM clifford hagen:We also are doing a paper on flodd T- Shirts 12:38:33 PM Gil Gibbs:I can't help but wonder if our society has to have a "Barnum & Bailey" approach to emergencies anymore due to the media reporting? 12:38:44 PM elaine enarson:? 12:38:51 PM Avagene Moore:Any comments on Tom's statement? Good point, I would say. 12:39:08 PM DAVE MCALLISTER:? 12:39:15 PM clifford hagen:? 12:39:34 PM Avagene Moore:Gary, do you wish to comment on Tom's statement before going to other questions? 12:39:49 PM Marilyn Barker:I agree with Tom. Look how the media blasted the Vietnam War and the Gulf War into our living rooms 12:40:18 PM Gary Webb:Avagene... 12:40:24 PM Gary Webb:in response to Tom's comment... 12:40:36 PM Gary Webb:I think we definitely need to consider the role of new technology... 12:40:39 PM elaine enarson:What I'd like to get at are the 'lessons learned' in disaster movies, eg race/gender/class relations, and thru disaster songs or t-shirts. These cultural products express emotion and also embody social relationships. 12:40:54 PM Gil Gibbs:? 12:40:55 PM Gary Webb:in transmitting knowledge of disaster. 12:41:10 PM Avagene Moore:Marilyn. Wasn't ignoring you. Do you have another question or comment? 12:41:17 PM bruce c hildebrand:I wonder if privacy rights and the law come into play at any point where culture and disaster meet. 12:41:27 PM Gary Webb:Elaine...me too! 12:41:46 PM Marilyn Barker:Wanted clarification on Amy's comment on religious views & disasters. 12:42:17 PM Gil Gibbs:I'll agree with Marilyn - the Vietnam war deeply affected me and many vets of that era, pushed us into a dark corner. 12:42:32 PM Amy Sebring:(We may need to set up another session on that topic perhaps Marilyn.) 12:42:44 PM Marilyn Barker:ok 12:42:53 PM clifford hagen:I would say to Tom's statement that it may well be desensitized in the way it is produced but the meanings held by the messages are anything but numbed they represent true meanings and emotions for the victims it is there voice and their interpritations that are central to the disaster 12:43:16 PM Avagene Moore:Dave, you wanted to speak? 12:43:20 PM DAVE MCALLISTER:I wonder if kids have a distorted view of disasters (as being "fun" or "exciting" instead of dangerous) after watching "Wizard of Oz" or "Twister" or "Titanic" etc. Are they therefore more at risk from a real disaster? 12:43:47 PM Gil Gibbs:? 12:44:00 PM Gary Webb:Dave, that's a great example of the kinds of questions we should be asking. 12:44:10 PM ggow:? 12:44:16 PM Gil Gibbs:Good shot, Dave - just the point I was thinking of! 12:44:20 PM Avagene Moore:Gil. 12:44:25 PM Tom Thornton:it is to our advantge though, we can now educate and prepare more people.......no excuses 12:44:57 PM Avagene Moore:Gordon. 12:45:06 PM ggow:re: Dave's question about kids, a group in Ottawa has done a survey on kid's perceptions of hazards and disasters. I believe it's called the Risk and Society Project .... 12:45:28 PM ggow:if anyone wants more info, let me know. 12:45:34 PM Gary Webb:ggow.... 12:45:42 PM Gary Webb:definitely want more info! 12:46:00 PM Dolores D:I would like more information about the research deebeaugez@visual-imagry.com 12:46:11 PM Avagene Moore:Other comments or questions of Gary or others in the group? 12:46:26 PM clifford hagen:? 12:46:30 PM Avagene Moore:Clifford. 12:46:49 PM Dolores D:? 12:47:29 PM clifford hagen:maybe my look it differant but I think that popular culture od disasters should be seen from a micro community level and its effects on that community rather than a macro view and how it is diseminated 12:47:51 PM Gary Webb:Cifford... 12:47:58 PM Gary Webb:as defined broadly today... 12:48:04 PM Gary Webb:there is defintely room... 12:48:18 PM Gary Webb:and a need for looking at macro- and micro-- 12:48:28 PM Gary Webb:aspects. 12:48:32 PM Amy Sebring:(My direct messages are apparently not getting through. RMP Ava.) 12:48:39 PM Gary Webb:As an illustration... 12:48:42 PM elaine enarson:no, couldn't even get on with full, but I could back out and try atain 12:48:46 PM Avagene Moore:Dee, you are next. 12:48:53 PM Dolores D:I publish a web site and we have a teen section, I would be willing to hosts questions for teens if someone would provide a list 12:49:01 PM Gary Webb:earlier I spoke about why pop culture of disaster exists... 12:49:11 PM Gary Webb:many of the points you and Elaine have raised... 12:49:21 PM Gary Webb:were thought about when I suggested... 12:49:31 PM Gary Webb:that popular culture might enhance solidarity... 12:49:37 PM Gary Webb:and of course... 12:49:47 PM Gary Webb:by mentioning profits, I was thinking of the movies. 12:50:36 PM clifford hagen:I agree Gary Just putting my two cents in :) 12:50:48 PM Gil Gibbs:? 12:51:15 PM Avagene Moore:Gil. 12:51:38 PM Gil Gibbs:I've noticed that too many people have to have personal experience in any danger situation to appreciate it all.... 12:52:06 PM Tricia Wachtendorf:! 12:52:48 PM clifford hagen:? 12:52:48 PM Avagene Moore:This has been fascinating! Gary and all - -- thank you for a wonderful discussion. We will take Tricia's question or comment and then close the formal part of our session. 12:53:18 PM Avagene Moore:(We can stay around and talk in the Virtual Forum as long as anyone wants to stay.) 12:54:34 PM Avagene Moore:Tricia or Clifford. Quickly. 12:54:40 PM clifford hagen:Gary may I ask were you fouond your information about Graffiti and disasters I would like to review it 12:54:44 PM Tricia Wachtendorf:Gary, back to your point on profits - Often the profits from products such as t-shirt, buttons, etc go to disaster relief. In this way, encouraging solidarity through the popular culture can actually help disaster victims in a monetary sense. 12:55:17 PM Gary Webb:Tricia... 12:55:29 PM Gary Webb:a great point I hadn't even thought about... 12:55:33 PM Gary Webb:Clifford... 12:55:42 PM Gary Webb:I didn't recognize your name at first... 12:55:45 PM Dolores D:Gary, what if someone had a book or movie where the majority of profits were to go back into disaster assistance? 12:55:49 PM Gary Webb:but the stuff on graffiti... 12:55:51 PM Gary Webb:came from you! 12:56:10 PM clifford hagen:sorry gary my bag 12:56:25 PM clifford hagen:thought I missed something in my review :) 12:56:37 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks to Gary Webb and members of the Pop Culture Mail List. Very good discussion and much more to say on this I am sure ... (respond to Dolores, please Gary.) 12:56:39 PM Gary Webb:Dolores, great question...should be experimented with! 12:56:59 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks to our audience also. ... 12:57:06 PM Avagene Moore:Reminder for next week.... 12:57:07 PM Dolores D:What do you mean experimented with? 12:57:32 PM Avagene Moore:We will be talking about Risk Management and the ruling that goes into effect in June 99. ... 12:57:48 PM Avagene Moore:Next Weds 12:00 Noon Eastern time. .. 12:58:13 PM Avagene Moore:Next Tuesday Roundtable will be an informal discussion about the ongoing OAS Conference ... 12:58:41 PM Avagene Moore:Stay tuned for more on the upcoming WEBEX on Nov 5... 12:58:51 PM Avagene Moore:Gary, any last remarks? 12:59:06 PM Gary Webb:I'd just want to thank... 12:59:16 PM Gary Webb:the folks at EIIP for putting on this session... 12:59:27 PM Gary Webb:and everyone in the room for some excellent suggestions and comments. 12:59:40 PM Avagene Moore:You are more than welcome! Transcript will be available next week .... 12:59:52 PM Avagene Moore:Suggestion for you Gary. ... 01:00:27 PM Avagene Moore:If you would like to have further discussions with your mail list subscribers, we can accommodate those for you. 01:00:37 PM Gary Webb:great...thanks! 01:00:42 PM Dolores D:Thank you Gary! Keep up this important work and research. 01:01:14 PM Gil Gibbs:Great show, Gary, gave me lots of insights! 01:01:22 PM elaine enarson:Thanks, Gary, and let's be in touch. 01:01:29 PM Avagene Moore:We can talk about that offline. Thanks everyone. Let's now move to the Virtual Forum. We can talk a bit more if you wish and Gary has the time. 01:01:48 PM Avagene Moore:The Virtual Classroom is adjourned!