Witnessing is political: Picking off new shoots will not stop the spring
about 26 months ago (03/03/2022)
Witnessing is political: Picking off new shoots will not stop the spring | ArtsEquator Thinking and Talking about Arts and Culture in Southeast Asia ArtsEquator Viewpoints March 3, 2022 By Chu May Paing (1,532 words, 6-minute read) Witness (noun) 1 : attestation of a fact or event : testimony 2 : one that gives evidence specifically : one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal 3 : one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place 4 : one who has personal knowledge of something 5 : something serving as evidence or proof – Merriam-Webster Dictionary When I think about the word “witness” in English, I feel a sense of passivity: one being interpellated into seeing or being in the presence of an event unfolding in proximity of their own body (or mind). Witnessing, especially an atrocious act or event, can potentially etch into the witness’ psyche forever. Witnessing becomes an act when the witness is summoned to testify to what happened during the witnessed event in a court of law.