Mark thinks that he is able to "keep it separate" but the novel demonstrates how Mark tries, but inevitably his subconscious is unable to "keep it separate". Mark's father is a former Marine who has also been scarred by war. He understands that war "affects you, it never stops affecting you." At the time Mark believes that he is fine, he had looked his father in the eye and said "it doesn't affect me." While trying to "keep it separate", Mark resorts to a range of protective behaviours. Joaquin refers to the camera as "a very convenient device for placing distance between oneself and one's surroundings." For Mark the camera acts as a shield between reality and him, he even admits "you kind of forget that what's happening in front of you is real." When Mark is in Harir Cave he is directly involved, "without your camera, it's not so easy." Talzani is referring to the fact that when you are apart of the war, when you are not just standing behind the camera shooting, when you are not separated by the camera, it is very different, and hard to deal with. When Mark has parties and get-togethers with his fellow war photographers they never talk about their experiences at war, they only talk about how the photos turn out and technical things. In some ways, not talking about it is a way for Mark to "keep it separate." Throughout the novel, Anderson often brings up the photographers drinking. When Elena asks David
Mark thinks that he is able to "keep it separate" but the novel demonstrates how Mark tries, but inevitably his subconscious is unable to "keep it separate". Mark's father is a former Marine who has also been scarred by war. He understands that war "affects you, it never stops affecting you." At the time Mark believes that he is fine, he had looked his father in the eye and said "it doesn't affect me." While trying to "keep it separate", Mark resorts to a range of protective behaviours. Joaquin refers to the camera as "a very convenient device for placing distance between oneself and one's surroundings." For Mark the camera acts as a shield between reality and him, he even admits "you kind of forget that what's happening in front of you is real." When Mark is in Harir Cave he is directly involved, "without your camera, it's not so easy." Talzani is referring to the fact that when you are apart of the war, when you are not just standing behind the camera shooting, when you are not separated by the camera, it is very different, and hard to deal with. When Mark has parties and get-togethers with his fellow war photographers they never talk about their experiences at war, they only talk about how the photos turn out and technical things. In some ways, not talking about it is a way for Mark to "keep it separate." Throughout the novel, Anderson often brings up the photographers drinking. When Elena asks David