A man renowned for his photographic and journalistic coverage of the war in Bosnia discussed the ironies of that war in the Gothic Reading Room Friday afternoon.
Edward Serotta, who is responsible for the striking images of the Bosnian conflict on display at the entrance of Perkins Library, spoke on the history of Sarajevo and presented a slide show of photographs from his latest book: "Survival in Sarajevo: How A Jewish Community Came To The Aid of Its City." A native of Savannah, Georgia, Serotta said his primary aim is to portray the lives of Jews living in Eastern and Central Europe.
During his presentation, Serotta emphasized the many ironies that the war has created.
For example, even though Jews living in Bosnia were not forced to become involved in the conflict, many have taken steps to help residents of a city with no gas, water or electricity. "Now, for the first time during a modern European war, it is the Jews who are saving the Christians and the Muslims," he said.
Serotta showed pictures of men and women who have turned a Sarajevo synagogue into a humanitarian aid center, where 54 volunteers work to operate free walk-in clinics and pharmacies that dispense care and medicine. "Those doctors and nurses never ask, `Are you part of our ethnic minority, or are you one of theirs?' It's just not important," Serotta said.
Serotta demonstrated another example of the war's irony with a slide of two boys carrying a bucket of water. One of the boys is a Bosnian Muslim and the other is a Bosnian Serb, he said, and they work together in the community center as water boys. Serotta used the image to explain his belief that, despite challenges, peaceful multiethnicity is possible.
Trinity junior Tina Gaud said she was touched by those images that depicted Muslims and Serbs who care enough to help each other even though they are on opposing sides of the conflict.
This emphasis is characteristic of Serotta's entire presentation. "This is an exhibit that talks about how diversity is a solution to the problem," said John Sharpe, academic librarian for research affairs, who is in charge of library exhibitions.
The audience also seemed moved by the contrast between pre-war and current photographs of many sites in Sarajevo. Two such slides depicted the destruction wreaked on Sarajevo's library and Jewish cemetery.
"It was very powerful... before and after shots showed the true effect of what the war has done," said Trinity freshman Justin Tomljanovic.
Those familiar with Sarajevo lauded Serotta's portrayal of the Bosnian people. "I thought the presentation was excellent; it gave a very true picture of the people," said Larisa Zgonjanin, a native of Sarajevo who attends Davidson College.
Serotta's photographic work has appeared in Time, Life and The Washington Post. He has also written on Bosnia for The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune and The Los Angeles Times.
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