Response 1

Response to Flusser’s “The Bag”

1. What does the bag and its contents symbolize for the author?
2. On page 29, the author ponders whether it is possible for one’s “bags” to be stolen. Does this refer simply to one’s memories, or to all “baggage” one carries?
3. Is it possible for one to have his bags stolen or will those stolen bags simply resurface fully intact?

Response:

Question number 3 asks if one’s bags can truly be taken from him. My response is no. One’s bags are not necessarily physically perceptible bags that one can carry in his hand. These bags are instead a metaphor for an individual’s mind and heart. The bags contain very personal, very subtle bits of information that make each individual unique. No two people have identical bags and the contents of two individuals’ bags are never the same. The contents may be similar and may even overlap, yet they will never be identical. An individual’s bag is his and only his. The bags contain one’s memories, thoughts, fears, ambitions and passions. These objects are innate and irremovable. They are intangible and invisible. These things can be shared with others, but not stolen by others. No thief can reach inside a person’s mind and heart to remove these ideas. No individual can effectively steal another person’s bags, yet those bags can be temporarily lost. While situations may arise that wear upon our memories, cloud our thoughts, provoke or calm our fears, obstruct our ambitions and jumble our passions, they can never be permanently stripped from an individual. Time and circumstances may temporarily remove them from the forefront of one’s mind, but not for long. Eventually, those clouded memories, thoughts, fears, ambitions and passions will be sparked and rejuvenated. The situations that caused them to be overlooked will dissolve and new situations will arise that bring them back. Our bags will always be our bags. The only person who has the ability to change the bag and its contents is the owner. Throughout our lives, our bags become lighter at times and heavier at others. Contents are shuffled. Some things are removed, some things are added. We form new memories, thoughts, fears, ambitions, and passions. We have control over our own bags. No one can take them from us. They are forever a part of us.