Age Quote by Robert Hass
“Another problem about writing about politics in the "age of globalization" is that so much of the violence in the form of war and also in the forms of institutional violence - sweatshops, child labor, victimization of people economically - happens elsewhere and out of sight. And when we do know about it and need to witness it, it's always mediated by images of one kind or another, so you're kind of stuck trying to write about what it's like trying to be you living your life thinking about and experiencing this stuff in that way.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Poetry and Politics, 1998
It describes the difficulty of writing about distant suffering, mediated by images, and the challenge of making it personal and immediate.
In simple terms: Writing about far‑away violence feels abstract and mediated.
Key Takeaway
Seek direct engagement to write authentically about global issues.
Themes
globalization
violence
media mediation
political writing
personal narrative
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
activist
When to use this quote
- field research
- first‑hand interviews
- documentary storytelling
- activist journalism
- educational workshops
Key Concepts
war
sweatshops
child labor
institutional violence
media framing
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you bridge the gap between distant suffering and personal experience?
- What responsibilities do writers have to represent others?
A Different Perspective
Mediated images can distance writers from lived reality.
