Part 7/12:
Drawing lessons from historical and fictional portrayals like Orson Welles’ The Third Man and observational experiences in post-Soviet Moscow, the speaker illustrates that catastrophic events often unfold gradually. People living through upheavals see their worlds collapse piece by piece—middle-class individuals selling possessions to buy food or secure their survival, even in seemingly stable societies. These scenes serve as stark reminders that societies can unravel unexpectedly, and the scars left behind often persist long after the initial shock.