[lit-ideas] Re: 21. century European anti-Semitism
- From: John McCreery <mccreery@xxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 10:53:27 +0900
On 2004/04/20, at 1:23, Scribe1865@xxxxxxx wrote:
> fear of, and violent defense against
> what is strange or unusual
This is precisely the sort of assumption that I have been questioning
all along. The strange and unusual invite a wide range of responses,
from touristic enjoyment, to giggles, to voyeuristic obsession (plus,
of course, scholarly interest--the anthropologist's usual excuse), as
well as fear and violence. That is why, for example, people in
advertising have endless debates over whether this or that new twist in
the creative has (1) not gone far enough, remaining dull and boring,
(2) has gone too far, thus likely to offend the client, customer,
critic or government censor who sees the ad, or (3) strikes (ideally at
least) just the right balance to attract and hold the attention of the
desired target audience.
My point is a general one, having to do with the character of
historical (or sociological or anthropological) explanation: Fear and
violent defense occur in specific social, cultural, historic
circumstances that any decent theory must provide an account for. That
human beings are capable of infantile rage or calculated cruelty is too
general a potential to account for why specific acts of barbarity occur
in specific times and places.
Cheers,
John L. McCreery
The Word Works, Ltd.
55-13-202 Miyagaya, Nishi-ku
Yokohama, Japan 220-0006
Tel 81-45-314-9324
Email mccreery@xxxxxxx
"Making Symbols is Our Business"
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