Is nostalgia always a positive emotion?
Invented by a Swiss physician in the 18
th century,
the word nostalgia was originally a clinical term
meaning acute and painful homesickness. Viewed as a brain disorder,
people were even said to die on account of nostalgia. Today, the word
has evolved into describing a mostly positive desire to re-experience a
place, person or event from the past. It's looked upon so favorably that
nostalgia has even become a popular element in music, design, fashion
and decor. There is no doubt that marketing agencies around the world
throw it around in brainstorm meetings as an appealing buzzword.
One wonders what version of nostalgia the
people in these photos would
experience when reflecting back on their lives in Quảng Ngãi in
1967. US artillery officer Larry Solie was serving in the area, and his
images reveal an economically disadvantaged region dusted with the
detritus of war. Unpaved roads, bare feet, rickety transportation and
arduous tasks to perform in the fields — life certainly appears
difficult. Yet, amidst the challenges, people still smile, construct
homes, sell sunglasses and peel bananas. It's impressive that people can
look back on difficult times with a certain joy knowing they overcame
them; it's more remarkable they can find happiness amidst them.
