Penny Lane- Zizek Late

In Zizek’s analysis of the 9-11 aftermath, he states: “America finally got what it had always fantasized about, and that was the most shocking part.” Our culture has long been obsessed with the idea of destruction and catastrophe in entertainment, but designated it as part of a fictional alternate universe. The scene of the twin towers was similar to that of an epic disaster film, but it was actually occurring with real world consequences. However, Zizek argues that our understanding of real devastation and suffering is absent from the social consciousness. “It is surprising how little of the actual carnage we see…in clear contrast to reporting on third world catastrophes…the real horror happens there not here.” The third world and impacts of war are out of sight and out of mind, so we rarely think of their existence. The idea of suffering abroad is so far removed and infrequently covered in our media, it is as if it does not even exist. DeSaussure’s descriptions of meaning and understanding are relevant to our blissful ignorance because our reality is socially constructed. My concept of hunger and suffering is vastly differentiated from an individual living in the squalor of a third world slum. The concept of intertextuality asserts that what I already know through personal experience and education defined my subjective reality. My world has been vastly sheltered from the tragic nature of humanity, so my perspective is stunted in comparison to reality.
The first 3 links are destruction scenes from Independence Day, Armageddon, and Knowing. The fourth clip is footage of the 9-11 attack:
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK75ZqUtDns
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j8nuUVByrU
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8yZf5IJtw0
4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iGYVh7HZo8