Creation and Destruction in Baghdad

Alexa Eyckeler, Carson Hom, Tim Malueg, Hannah Miller

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Introduction: Through our Neatline map, we attempt to visually represent the ways in which the American invasion of Baghdad altered both the landscape and the people of the city through the narration of Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi. We were inspired to explore this topic because of the ways the Whatsitsname mirrors the creation and destruction of Baghdad as a city, and the cycle of life and death that occurs throughout the invasion, and in turn the novel. We track the progress of this theme starting with the creation of Baghdad as a circular city in 782 AD. We then have the Time Line set up to track the progression of page numbers as we tagged Elishva, Faraj, the Whatitsname, and a variety of other moments that symbolize creation and destruction. The historical context we included regarding the invasion and the various zones and bombings are shown through our rectified maps and plotted points. 

How To Use and Locations: 

Click through the various points starting with 

1. The Large Circle encompassing Baghdad: This point will outline information regarding the history and creation of Baghdad as a city. Then move to...

2. Al-Tayaran Square: This is a small yellow triangle to the north of the red outlined area. Here you will find two quotes from Frankenstein in Baghdad. This is because the novel starts with a bombing in this square. The first quote is from the first few pages of the novel...you will want to revisit this point as the last stop on your journey to see how the novel cycles back to a bombing in this location at the end. From the square head to...

3. Al-Aimmah Bridge in the Northern section of Baghdad, outlined in white: Here you will here audio from the stampede that happened on this bridge in both real life, and in the novel. We used this point to include quotes regarding the Government and Tracking and Pursuit department's role in perpetuating the cycle of killings and violence occuring in Baghdad. Next make your way to...

4. The Bataween Neighborhood outline: This is large red outlined neighborhood. This is the neighborhood where the characters of Frankenstein in Baghdad live. Within Bataween the entire narrative of the Whatsitsname unfolds. His symbolism of creation and destruction is outlined here. Within the neighborhood of Bataween head to... 

5. Elishva's House: This is the blue dot within Bataween. Although her home resides on Lane 7 of Bataween, we were not able to plot this exact point. Elishva's home symbolizes the destruction of the neighborhood and the loss of history and culture in Baghdad, as she was forced to leave her home in this neighborhood as a result of the American invasion. Next to...

6. Faraj Realty: This is the yellow dot within Bataween. Here you will find information about Faraj the realtor, a central character in the novel. His role is crucial to our story about creation and destruction because of his desire to renovate and change the architecture of Baghdad. He is a character that symbolizes change. After Faraj's house go to...

7. Saint Odisha Church outside the neighborhood: Plotted as a purple cross. This is the church where Elishva goes each Sunday. Here, Father Josaih speaks about how the soul and body are created and destroyed in connection to a passage from the Bible...

8. The Green Zone: The Green Zone is plotted on the rectified map. It is the large green outline. This is the zone that was created during the invasion as a safe zone for international forces. Outside the Green Zone...

9. Canal Hotel Bombing: This is the black dot plotted far to the west of Baghdad. The Canal Hotel is no longer a hotel, but it was during the invasion and was the site of the UN Conference. During the invasion it was bombed, and is yet another example of the ways in which the invasion disrupted and changed the environment of Baghdad. Finally return to...

10. Al-Tayaran Square: Return to the yellow triangle outside Bataween. Here, read the quote from the final pages of the book. By the end of the book, lives and places have been created and destroyed, but ultimately it ends with a bomb, just like it started.