Media, Culture and Human Violence: From Savage Lovers to Violent Complexity

299 Pages·2016·7.703 MB·English

by  Jeff Lewis

Media, Culture and
Human Violence
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Media, Culture and
Human Violence
From Savage Lovers
to Violent Complexity
Jeff Lewis
London•NewYork
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PublishedbyRowman&LittlefieldInternationalLtd
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Copyright(cid:2)2016byJeffLewis
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformorbyany
electronicormechanicalmeans,includinginformationstorageandretrievalsystems,
withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher,exceptbyareviewerwhomayquote
passagesinareview.
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
ISBN:HB978-1-78348-514-7
PB978-1-78348-515-4
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Names:Lewis,Jeff,1964–
Title:Media,cultureandhumanviolence:fromsavageloverstoviolentcomplexity/
JeffLewis.
Description:NewYork:Rowman&LittlefieldInternationalLtd,2016.(cid:2)Includes
bibliographicalreferencesandindex.
Identifiers:LCCN2015035505(cid:2)ISBN9781783485147(cloth:alk.paper)(cid:2)ISBN
9781783485154(pbk.:alk.paper)(cid:2)ISBN9781783485161(electronic)
Subjects:LCSH:Culture.(cid:2)Massmediaandculture.(cid:2)Violenceinmassmedia.
Classification:LCCHM621.L492016(cid:2)DDC302.23—dc23LCrecordavailableat
http://lccn.loc.gov/2015035505
(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:4)
ThepaperusedinthispublicationmeetstheminimumrequirementsofAmerican
NationalStandardforInformationSciences—PermanenceofPaperforPrintedLibrary
Materials,ANSI/NISOZ39.48-1992.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
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Thisbookisdedicatedto twodearfriends,FrankieandLiamDavison,
and their children, Sam and Milly. Like so many millions of people,
Frankie and Liam were victims of war. Both of them were on board
Malaysian Flight 17 when it was attacked and destroyed by Ukrainian
separatistsinJuly2014.FrankieandLiamweredeeplyopposedtowar.
Their lives were filled with love, and this book has been written in
honourofthoselives.
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Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction 1
1 TheCulturalAnimal 23
2. SavageLovers:Language,CommunalismandViolentSimplicity 51
3 SymbolicRevolutions:Agriculture,ClimateChangeandthe
BeginningsofWar 75
4 ViolentComplexity:Writing,GodandtheAncient
Enlightenment 101
5 WhatIsEnlightenment?Liberalism,RomanticScienceandthe
FirstMassMedia 135
6 IntheAgeofAgitation:ModernMedia,ViolentConsumersand
ImaginingsofState 175
7 WebofWorlds:Nature,LoveandtheInternet 215
Conclusion:(cid:5)ISIS 251
Bibliography 265
Index 285
vii
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Belinda Lewis for her ideas, brilliant editing and
unflinching support of this project. Special thanks likewise go to Geraldine
McFaul,whoprovidedinvaluablefeedbackontheearlydraftsofthisbook.I
would also like to express my profound gratitude to Martina O’Sullivan for
hertremendousfaithinthebookanditsvision.
I would like to acknowledge the support of RMIT University and my
broader team of research colleagues and students. I especially thank and
acknowledge John Handmer, Paul James, Elizabeth Kath, Chris Hudson,
Damian Grenfell, Joseph Siracusa, Peter Horsfield, Peter Ling and Jonathan
O’Donnell. Particular thanks to Robin Cameron, Philip Pond and Kirsten
Emes for their ongoing support, friendship and inspiring conversation. Spe-
cialthankstomyfriendandcolleagueINyomanDarmaPutra.
On a personal note, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Jay and
Sian Lewis, who always challenge, intrigue and inspire me. Thanks also to
George,Anne-Marie,Arthur,GeraldineandLouise.
This book has been written with the significant support of the Australian
ResearchCouncil.
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