fiction vs. nonfiction

Civil war photography is an especially good example of the blurred boundaries between war and pop culture. Mathew Brady and other prominent photographers almost always posed their subjects, even after death. What resulted was a mix of war and fiction that gradually became truth through the passage of time. Because support for the war was so important, the civil war put 5000 American war photographers to work. Capturing almost every soldier who served in the war.
Even before EBay, collecting war memorabilia has been a prominent American subculture. From uniforms and weapons to silverware, trading and gathering memorabilia has served both as a hobby and for some a profession. Why do we want reminders of war? What do we want of tokens from these large tragedies?
These cultural artifacts are taken out of their own lifetimes, their values determined often not by history, but by the present. Various symbols also possess timeless and world-less qualities whether captured on film or seen in real life.
Imagery of the American flag features prominently in many movies from romantic comedies to science fiction. When looking at an image of the flag, it can be hard to distinguish between life and film. It is odd but true – so many movies about aliens and Armageddon are also about patriotism.