As the title suggests, this work is about my personal understanding of violence. In addition, an example from the completed group work of the seminar "Sociology of Violence" is used. If you try to define violence, you will notice that violence can only be evaluated subjectively and that there is no uniform definition. For example, Randall Collins tries to differentiate types of violence with his micro-violence theory.
Thus it can be stated that although violence can be differentiated and thus found in different dimensions, it cannot be generalized to a simple definition. In the course of this work, I would like to offer the reader just one explanatory approach and explain my individual position on violence. In addition, the essay is intended to sensitize the reader to the concept of violence and to enable a detached understanding of social norms.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Theory
Case Study: Bairro Jamaica – the media violence
Evaluation
Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the multifaceted nature of violence through personal reflection and a specific case study of the "Jamaica Bairro" in Lisbon. The primary research goal is to examine whether a clear demarcation between perpetrator and victim is sociologically possible, or if violence must be understood as a complex social interaction.
- Theoretical perspectives on violence (Randall Collins and Michel Wieviorka)
- Analysis of media representation and "media violence"
- Case study of the political and social conflict in Jamaica Bairro
- Evaluation of violence as a social construction and its potential for reinterpretation
Excerpt from the Book
Case Study: Bairro Jamaica – the media violence
Our group work focused on the media violence related to the current political issue of Jamaica Bairro. This neighborhood in Seixal, Lisbon, is currently under heavy police surveillance and is expected to be disbanded by 2022. This district is referred to by the political elite as a slum, and is a bad image and high financial expense for the state and especially for Portugal's capital. Inhabitants of this Bairro are more than 230 families immigrated from Africa who have been living there for over 30 years.
The state invests about 15 million Euros to fight this Bairro and to improve the problems related to crime, living conditions and integration. The problem, however, arises from the fact that the political elite would like to push through the dissolution of the Bairro without paying attention to social or human aspects. In order to implement this decision, the Bairro has been controlled with increased police surveillance since the last few months and is regarded as a threat. Thus the inhabitants of this Bairro are regarded as "enemies" of the government and receive a devaluing status in society. However, when there were riots between the police and the inhabitants, the people of Lisbon got involved and demonstrated against the police violence.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the personal motivation for studying violence and introduces the central research question regarding the blurred boundaries between perpetrator and victim.
Theory: Presents the micro-violence perspective of Randall Collins and the subject-oriented approach of Michel Wieviorka to provide a conceptual framework.
Case Study: Bairro Jamaica – the media violence: Analyzes the ongoing conflict in Lisbon, focusing on how mainstream media and social networks diverge in their reporting on the marginalized inhabitants.
Evaluation: Reflects on the seminar experience, the challenges of gathering data, and the evolution of the author's understanding of violence during the course.
Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, arguing that violence cannot be easily resolved or defined, and suggests that reinterpreting it as a social interaction is necessary.
Keywords
Violence, Sociology, Jamaica Bairro, Media Violence, Victim, Perpetrator, Subjectivity, Micro-violence, Social Norms, Conflict, Integration, Lisbon, Randall Collins, Michel Wieviorka, Social Interaction
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic work?
The work examines the subjective nature of violence, questioning whether society can clearly distinguish between victims and perpetrators in complex social conflicts.
Which theoretical frameworks are applied?
The author utilizes Randall Collins' micro-violence theory and Michel Wieviorka's theory of subjectivity to analyze violent interactions.
What is the primary research question?
The study investigates whether a clear demarcation between perpetrator and victim is possible when analyzing social violence.
How is the term "media violence" defined in this study?
Media violence refers to the manipulative power of mass media and journalists to shape public opinion and portray certain groups as enemies, often neglecting neutral reporting.
What specific case study does the author use?
The author discusses the "Jamaica Bairro" in Lisbon, focusing on the political and social tensions surrounding its planned dissolution.
What did the author conclude about the possibility of ending violence?
The author concludes that violence is an omnipresent social interaction that cannot be removed from society, suggesting instead that it should be reinterpreted rather than ignored.
How did the author's understanding of violence change during the course?
Initially viewing violence as only negative, the author moved toward a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging that violence can be integrated into every social action and interpreted in various ways.
What role does the "non-subject" play in the author's analysis of the media?
The author categorizes public media and security forces as "non-subjects" because they often act as instruments for other powers, thus exerting a form of manipulative influence without physically acting themselves.
What comparison does the author make between Lisbon and Berlin?
The author compares the failed integration of the Bairro Jamaica to the successful integration of immigrants in Berlin-Kreuzberg, suggesting that investment in social infrastructure is more effective than displacement.
What were the main methodological challenges in this work?
The author faced difficulties in finding sufficient data on the Jamaica Bairro and reconciling the lack of a uniform, universally applicable definition of violence.
- Citar trabajo
- Iryna Lysenko (Autor), 2019, Who is the victim? A personal statement of the "sociology of violence" course, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/501267
