I think the Toronto attack is the most recent case to underline to me the importance of a concept I don't think has been discussed enough - violence in the public sphere.
-
Show this thread
-
Certain types of violence are "private", gang violence, domestic abuse, even the brawl outside a pub. But other types of violence are designed to be public. The idea of propaganda-of-the-deed and "political violence" captures some of this, but not all.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likesShow this thread -
The "incel" attacker adopted a method used by ISIS-inspired attacks across Europe 2016-2017, and I really think the most salient aspect of his attack is that it was designed to be a public event - it had an audience, and a ready band of promoters in the form of modern media.
2 replies 0 retweets 1 likeShow this thread -
The copy-cat phenomenon means this is anything but newhttps://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/12/the-media-needs-to-stop-inspiring-copycat-murders-heres-how/266439/ …
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likesShow this thread -
In a weird and perverse way, I feel like analysing these attacks (Toronto but not just) as sick type of engagement with the public sphere might be more helpful than the traditional frames of mental illness/ideology commonly mobilised.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likesShow this thread
I mean I hate even writing this, but the whole "incel" community are "subaltern" in that they feel and consider themselves excluded from the hegemony (even if this is a self-imposed exclusion).
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.