Download issue 02 (Low resolution), April 2009 (PDF, 1,7 MB)

ExhibitionsHeroes:An exhibition from the ArmyMuseum in Stockholm- There are some things that have to be done, even though itis dangerous.- Why is that?- Because otherwise one is not a human being... just agrubby little blot.Conversation between Jonatan and Skorpan.From The Brothers Lionheart (Bröderna Lejonhjärta),Astrid Lindgren, 1973Heroes – an exhibition aboutcourageMany of us have met the odd hero or two, and we readabout them in the newspapers. Heroes save folk indistress or prevent disasters. There are everyday heroes,superheroes, and many other types of hero. One man’s heromay very well be another man’s villain.One common definition of a ‘hero’ is someone whocarries out an action beyond what is expected, withoutconsideration of personal gain. But even here, peopledisagree. One upper secondary class discussed this conceptduring a philosophy class: is anything ever done withoutconsideration of personal gain? Given that you would feelpretty awful if you failed to act in an emergency, thenpersonal gain is in fact a driving force for all action.Whatever the conclusion about this, it is clear that we allhave different ideas about the word ‘hero’. Small childrencannot imagine any greater heroes than Mum and Dad. Butfor the teenager, these former heroes are embarrassingadults, and it is inconceivable that they were once ourheroes.So how do you become a hero? Is it something you candecide for yourself, or do other people decide? Once a hero,always a hero? Or does the hero status have a time limit? Isan external threat necessary to produce heroes? If so, doesthis mean that a secure society without any danger cannotproduce heroes? Is the number of heroes in a society ameasure of the level of danger?By posing questions about heroes, the Army museum inStockholm wants to awaken reflections about who is to becalled a hero, and why. The exhibition and the cataloguecontain different sections: Who is a hero? – Heroes mustact. – My hero – your villain. – Can soldiers be heroes? Andfinally, Why do we need heroes? The catalogue containsdiscussions from some authors about different aspect ofheroes and heroism and is in Swedish and English.The exhibition is an exhibition for families and childrenbut we still discuss important questions. We ask questions18 MAGAZINE ISSUE 02