Creating Complex Borders within a Borderless World in Ephraim Sidon’s poetry book Uzu and Muzu from Kakaruzu (1987) and Renen Yezerski’s film The Invisible Enemy across the Wall: Israeli and Palestinian Children's Perspective of the Other (2015) )Borderlands and Visual Arts

Abstract

In seeking political and racial authority within a borderless world or flexible borders, people and governments increase and build up political, ideological and social boundaries. The paper discusses both Ephraim Sidon’s children poetry book Uzu and Muzu from Kakaruzu (1987) and Renen Yezerski’s film The Invisible Enemy across the Wall: Israeli and Palestinian Children's Perspective of the Other (2015), and shows how borders are being enforced. The film reflects Israeli and Palestinian children’s opposing perspectives concerning the meaning and nature of borders. It also shows discrepancies of opinions between old and new generations. The paper introduces a controversial study and evaluation of contemporary Palestinian/Israeli society. Art and literature allow people to express their experiences and investigate ideas without fully commiting themselves. Only through art, the poetry collection and film, Palestinians and Israelis can live together in peace on the Palestinian land. While Israelis may seek reconciliation with Palestinians, the latter sees the former as colonizers and violators, and refuses such agreement. Besides, borders, physical or symbolic, still have many roles and functions in contemporary world. They affect people’s lives, actions and attitudes. Some borders may become softer or harder because of political transformations. Because of terrorism and political concerns, boundaries become a symbol of security, yet from the other side, they are means of oppression. The research focuses on the process of bounding and how people and groups are confined within severe economic, social and spatial restrictions.The paper discusses people’s rights within a confined society, and examines the nature of restriction and control of who should pass the border to the other side and who are not allowed. This detention process raises questions of ethics, principles and human rights. People’s loyalty and identity are questioned. Closing the borders for securitization, the prevention of suicide bombers, is against morals, since ordinary people confront serious and oppressive dislocation. Legitimate security justifies violent actions on both sides. The focus of the borders shifts from being only a physical location to be a psychological, cultural, security and an economic barrier.