We
often think of certain professions living in a bubble or those in certain areas
as living in a removed bubble. The many versions of lawyer jokes, for example,
demonstrate a view that sets lawyers apart from the rest of the community based
on their profession. And, as is perhaps best illustrated by the current US
election, there are widely held perceptions that those in different geographic
regions hold particular views. These are externally constructed bubbles created
by those who are not a part of the communities to explain (or mock) behaviour
that differs from their own.
The
film Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
illustrates the opposite situation – where individuals in a particular area
come together and create their own internal bubble. In fact, set in Kabul, the
characters actually refer to their location and their community as “Kabubble.” Here,
the community is that of foreign journalists and their associated in
Afghanistan in the early-to-mid-2000s to cover the war.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot tells the story of Kim Barker,
a US-based news writer who is unexpectedly given the opportunity to cover the
events in Afghanistan in large part because she is single and has no children,
making her less of a liability to the network in the event she were killed or
injured. Kim leads a comfortable life in New York City but makes the choice to
become a war correspondent because she is afraid that her life has become dull
and meaningless. She finds herself at the journalist residence in Kabul, where
she is quickly befriended by Tanya Vanderpoel, another female journalist. Tanya
introduces her to the residence and the area, guiding her through the
intricacies of Kabul life – from where to go out to how to conduct herself
while out. She also introduces her to the idea of the “Kabubble,” meaning the
community of journalists and other foreigners in Kabul.
Within
this community, there are different norms and standards, as well as different
rules of protection. These are informal standards and rules made by the community
as a whole in often unspoken ways – if you want to do something that is fine
but if you do not want to partake that is also fine. Conduct that tends to be
viewed negatively at home, such as copious drinking, the use of illegal drugs,
and random sex, is accepted as standard practice within the confines of the
bubble. This is largely due to the nature of the situation and pressures in
which the residents of the “Kabubble” find themselves. The need for release is
personal – the availability and acceptability of different forms of release is
a community decision.
There
are bounds to the bubble, such as ensuring that these activities do not involve
members of local populations or occur outside designated areas. There are also
bounds in terms of ensuring that local customs are followed outside the bubble
and that the residents watch out for each other. This is not to deny that those
in the bubble frequently fight each other for stories and access to key people
and information, however this is largely accepted as part of the job rather
than a personal issue.
As
Kim navigates her way through Afghanistan and becomes part of the bubble and
its culture, she begins a relationship with another journalist, Ian. At first
this is a casual relationship, however the bond soon grows deeper and she eventually
uses her personal and professional resources to free him when he is kidnapped. Ultimately,
however, she realizes that he lives for the bubble and the thrill of the danger
associated with it while she is afraid of becoming so much a part of the bubble
that she is unable to pull herself out. A trip to see her boss in New York only
confirms this. When given the choice of positions at the end of the film, Kim
elects to leave the bubble, returning to a prestigious news anchor position in
the US. The ease of her ability to leave the bubble and return to “normal” life demonstrates the porous and
accepting nature of the bubble itself – it only exerts control on those who are
inside it.
There
are many comedic aspects to Whiskey Tango
Foxtrot. However, the way in which it depicts the functioning of an
internally created and controlled society is an important aspect that is less
often highlighted. There are lessons to be learned from this society – from its
open nature to its ability to function and respect local customs to its
necessity in situations of conflict and stress – that should make it more than
just a passing bubble.
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