Hannah Arendt, writing in 1963 of Adolph Eichmann in Jerusalem, was moved to describe what she saw as: The fearsome, word-and-thought-defying banality of evil.
This seemingly out of place word, ‘banality’, seems very much to be part and parcel of true evil. Leaving aside the films and books for one moment, it seems to me that this is what it’s all about. Nothingness.
Of course the CIA are anything but evil – they’re an altruistic, kindly lot of do-gooders, dedicated to peace on earth and yet – look at the photo and the textures and colour scheme they’ve adopted. These are the colours of cold efficiency, of clinical dispassion, of tiled rooms and the absence of style, the absence of any feeling whatsoever. What a cheerless foyer to a great public building. How dispiriting.
When we eventually see ‘abandon hope, all ye who enter here’, this is the sort of portal I have in mind.
I used to drive to work past the CIA sometimes. It always amused me that there was no sign from the road to the huge unmissable compound.
ReplyDeleteColin, you have hidden depths. I'd love to see your CV.
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