hi tonight I’d like to talk to you about violence and here’s the first thing you
violence and here’s the first thing you
violence and here’s the first thing you need to know I have locked all the doors
need to know I have locked all the doors
need to know I have locked all the doors in this building there’s no escape
in this building there’s no escape
in this building there’s no escape there’s no way out so let’s begin
there’s no way out so let’s begin
there’s no way out so let’s begin joy our story starts with this man
joy our story starts with this man
joy our story starts with this man Edgar Allen Poe in 1844 Poe published a
Edgar Allen Poe in 1844 Poe published a
Edgar Allen Poe in 1844 Poe published a short story called the purloined letter
short story called the purloined letter
short story called the purloined letter it was the third and final of three
it was the third and final of three
it was the third and final of three stories the Poe wrote they all feature
stories the Poe wrote they all feature
stories the Poe wrote they all feature his famous amateur detective organs
his famous amateur detective organs
his famous amateur detective organs Japan as the story’s title implies the
Japan as the story’s title implies the
Japan as the story’s title implies the subject of the story is a stolen letter
subject of the story is a stolen letter
subject of the story is a stolen letter the prefect the Paris police cannot find
the prefect the Paris police cannot find
the prefect the Paris police cannot find it even though he knows it was stolen by
it even though he knows it was stolen by
it even though he knows it was stolen by the minister D and he knows the letter
the minister D and he knows the letter
the minister D and he knows the letter must be in the minister’s apartment when
must be in the minister’s apartment when
must be in the minister’s apartment when he asked you can’t find the letter Japan
he asked you can’t find the letter Japan
he asked you can’t find the letter Japan finds it immediately how because he
finds it immediately how because he
finds it immediately how because he knows the minister is so cunning he
knows the minister is so cunning he
knows the minister is so cunning he would never hide the letter in any of
would never hide the letter in any of
would never hide the letter in any of the places people ordinarily hide things
the places people ordinarily hide things
the places people ordinarily hide things instead he does something different he
instead he does something different he
instead he does something different he hides it in plain sight now I begin with
hides it in plain sight now I begin with
hides it in plain sight now I begin with this story because I want to argue that
this story because I want to argue that
this story because I want to argue that violence in American life today is
violence in American life today is
violence in American life today is exactly like Poe’s purloined letter it’s
exactly like Poe’s purloined letter it’s
exactly like Poe’s purloined letter it’s right in front of us but we can’t see it
right in front of us but we can’t see it
right in front of us but we can’t see it we’re surrounded by violence in our
we’re surrounded by violence in our
we’re surrounded by violence in our popular culture in the news media
popular culture in the news media
popular culture in the news media everywhere we look we may be fascinated
everywhere we look we may be fascinated
everywhere we look we may be fascinated by it we may be scared of it sometimes
by it we may be scared of it sometimes
by it we may be scared of it sometimes both but we don’t understand it this is
both but we don’t understand it this is
both but we don’t understand it this is where we need to take a lesson from
where we need to take a lesson from
where we need to take a lesson from Poe’s detective we need to look at
Poe’s detective we need to look at
Poe’s detective we need to look at violence from a different point of view
violence from a different point of view
violence from a different point of view and then it will come into focus
and then it will come into focus
and then it will come into focus to demonstrate this point we need to go
to demonstrate this point we need to go
to demonstrate this point we need to go back to the Puritans now I know that
back to the Puritans now I know that
back to the Puritans now I know that seems counterintuitive because surely
seems counterintuitive because surely
seems counterintuitive because surely the Puritans had their minds fixed so
the Puritans had their minds fixed so
the Puritans had their minds fixed so firmly on what it took to get to heaven
firmly on what it took to get to heaven
firmly on what it took to get to heaven but they wouldn’t be interested in
but they wouldn’t be interested in
but they wouldn’t be interested in violence in fact the Puritans were just
violence in fact the Puritans were just
violence in fact the Puritans were just as fascinated by violence as we are
as fascinated by violence as we are
as fascinated by violence as we are today and we know this because the
today and we know this because the
today and we know this because the largest gatherings of people in the
largest gatherings of people in the
largest gatherings of people in the colonial era happened when people got
colonial era happened when people got
colonial era happened when people got together to watch public executions
together to watch public executions
together to watch public executions Puritan ministers took the opportunity
Puritan ministers took the opportunity
Puritan ministers took the opportunity to address such large numbers of people
to address such large numbers of people
to address such large numbers of people to preach sermons telling the audience
to preach sermons telling the audience
to preach sermons telling the audience how to understand the demise of the
how to understand the demise of the
how to understand the demise of the criminal and when these sermons were
criminal and when these sermons were
criminal and when these sermons were subsequently published they became very
subsequently published they became very
subsequently published they became very popular and very influential as you can
popular and very influential as you can
popular and very influential as you can see from this example published in 1675
see from this example published in 1675
see from this example published in 1675 the message of the sermon is spelled out
the message of the sermon is spelled out
the message of the sermon is spelled out very clearly by the title and at the
very clearly by the title and at the
very clearly by the title and at the bottom of the page there are biblical
bottom of the page there are biblical
bottom of the page there are biblical passages that are designed to drive the
passages that are designed to drive the
passages that are designed to drive the message home even more firmly now we can
message home even more firmly now we can
message home even more firmly now we can learn two lessons from the crowds of
learn two lessons from the crowds of
learn two lessons from the crowds of people that attended executions during
people that attended executions during
people that attended executions during the Puritan era first there is never
the Puritan era first there is never
the Puritan era first there is never been a golden age of American history
been a golden age of American history
been a golden age of American history where violence has not taken place or
where violence has not taken place or
where violence has not taken place or where we haven’t been fascinated by
where we haven’t been fascinated by
where we haven’t been fascinated by violence so we need to give up on the
violence so we need to give up on the
violence so we need to give up on the golden age idea and instead focus on
golden age idea and instead focus on
golden age idea and instead focus on what’s happening today the second lesson
what’s happening today the second lesson
what’s happening today the second lesson to draw is to think that when those
to draw is to think that when those
to draw is to think that when those people were watching the executions and
people were watching the executions and
people were watching the executions and listening to the ministers and deciding
listening to the ministers and deciding
listening to the ministers and deciding how to understand the deaths of these
how to understand the deaths of these
how to understand the deaths of these criminals they will also gain in a sense
criminals they will also gain in a sense
criminals they will also gain in a sense of what defined their community what to
of what defined their community what to
of what defined their community what to find their connections with each other
find their connections with each other
find their connections with each other what defined their values to put it
what defined their values to put it
what defined their values to put it another way we all know that violence
another way we all know that violence
another way we all know that violence can destroy communities but the
can destroy communities but the
can destroy communities but the era tells us that it can also build
era tells us that it can also build
era tells us that it can also build community now you can see exactly the
community now you can see exactly the
community now you can see exactly the same thing happening if we now
same thing happening if we now
same thing happening if we now fast-forward to the 19th century and
fast-forward to the 19th century and
fast-forward to the 19th century and look at the rise of the popular press
look at the rise of the popular press
look at the rise of the popular press believe it or not at one time the
believe it or not at one time the
believe it or not at one time the American newspapers did not routinely
American newspapers did not routinely
American newspapers did not routinely cover crime and murder partly out of a
cover crime and murder partly out of a
cover crime and murder partly out of a sense of delicacy and restraint
sense of delicacy and restraint
sense of delicacy and restraint it might be worth repeating that at one
it might be worth repeating that at one
it might be worth repeating that at one time American newspapers were governed
time American newspapers were governed
time American newspapers were governed by a sense of delicacy and restraint
by a sense of delicacy and restraint
by a sense of delicacy and restraint that all changed in the 1830s with the
that all changed in the 1830s with the
that all changed in the 1830s with the rise of the penny press during this time
rise of the penny press during this time
rise of the penny press during this time coverage of murder exploded
coverage of murder exploded
coverage of murder exploded thanks Empire to highly marketable
thanks Empire to highly marketable
thanks Empire to highly marketable crimes like the murder a prostitute
crimes like the murder a prostitute
crimes like the murder a prostitute Helen Durrett in 1836 and of shopgirl
Helen Durrett in 1836 and of shopgirl
Helen Durrett in 1836 and of shopgirl Mary Rogers in 1841 now as you can
Mary Rogers in 1841 now as you can
Mary Rogers in 1841 now as you can imagine the publishers and the editors
imagine the publishers and the editors
imagine the publishers and the editors of these newspapers came in for a lot of
of these newspapers came in for a lot of
of these newspapers came in for a lot of criticism because of the lurid
criticism because of the lurid
criticism because of the lurid sensational way in which they covered
sensational way in which they covered
sensational way in which they covered these crimes but they defended
these crimes but they defended
these crimes but they defended themselves by saying we are performing a
themselves by saying we are performing a
themselves by saying we are performing a public service what service they said
public service what service they said
public service what service they said they were educating the millions of
they were educating the millions of
they were educating the millions of Americans who were in the process of
Americans who were in the process of
Americans who were in the process of moving from rural to urban areas they
moving from rural to urban areas they
moving from rural to urban areas they were educated in about the dangers of
were educated in about the dangers of
were educated in about the dangers of rapidly growing American cities now of
rapidly growing American cities now of
rapidly growing American cities now of course that argument is self-serving but
course that argument is self-serving but
course that argument is self-serving but it also contains a kernel of truth that
it also contains a kernel of truth that
it also contains a kernel of truth that I think it’s important to hold on to yes
I think it’s important to hold on to yes
I think it’s important to hold on to yes violence and the way it’s covered can be
violence and the way it’s covered can be
violence and the way it’s covered can be trashy it can be sensationalized but it
trashy it can be sensationalized but it
trashy it can be sensationalized but it can also be educational it can teach us
can also be educational it can teach us
can also be educational it can teach us about ourselves about the people around
about ourselves about the people around
about ourselves about the people around us and about our society as a whole we
us and about our society as a whole we
us and about our society as a whole we can see that same thing going on if we
can see that same thing going on if we
can see that same thing going on if we now move again this time to the 1970s
now move again this time to the 1970s
now move again this time to the 1970s and look at how the serial killer
and look at how the serial killer
and look at how the serial killer came the preeminent criminal icon of
came the preeminent criminal icon of
came the preeminent criminal icon of that era in many ways that process
that era in many ways that process
that era in many ways that process begins with this man Ted Bundy who in
begins with this man Ted Bundy who in
begins with this man Ted Bundy who in the late 1970’s and early 1980s became
the late 1970’s and early 1980s became
the late 1970’s and early 1980s became the public face of serial murder a crime
the public face of serial murder a crime
the public face of serial murder a crime that at the time was described by the
that at the time was described by the
that at the time was described by the FBI and the media of being of epidemic
FBI and the media of being of epidemic
FBI and the media of being of epidemic proportions
proportions
proportions Bundy was convicted of dozens of
Bundy was convicted of dozens of
Bundy was convicted of dozens of assaults rapes and murders in four
assaults rapes and murders in four
assaults rapes and murders in four different states
different states
different states some people believe he may have murdered
some people believe he may have murdered
some people believe he may have murdered hundreds of women during a ten year
hundreds of women during a ten year
hundreds of women during a ten year period the profile of the serial killer
period the profile of the serial killer
period the profile of the serial killer rose even more after the publication of
rose even more after the publication of
rose even more after the publication of Thomas Harris’s famous novel The Silence
Thomas Harris’s famous novel The Silence
Thomas Harris’s famous novel The Silence of the Lambs and then more game when the
of the Lambs and then more game when the
of the Lambs and then more game when the even more famous film adaptation
even more famous film adaptation
even more famous film adaptation directed by Jonathan Demi appeared
directed by Jonathan Demi appeared
directed by Jonathan Demi appeared starring Anthony Hopkins in an
starring Anthony Hopkins in an
starring Anthony Hopkins in an unforgettable performance as Hannibal
unforgettable performance as Hannibal
unforgettable performance as Hannibal Lecter we can learn a great deal about
Lecter we can learn a great deal about
Lecter we can learn a great deal about American culture by thinking about how
American culture by thinking about how
American culture by thinking about how and why the serial killer became a
and why the serial killer became a
and why the serial killer became a celebrity and I would make that same
celebrity and I would make that same
celebrity and I would make that same argument about the more extreme aspects
argument about the more extreme aspects
argument about the more extreme aspects of that same phenomenon take for example
of that same phenomenon take for example
of that same phenomenon take for example murderabilia murderabilia refers to the
murderabilia murderabilia refers to the
murderabilia murderabilia refers to the online sale of artwork and the personal
online sale of artwork and the personal
online sale of artwork and the personal effects of incarcerated serial killers
effects of incarcerated serial killers
effects of incarcerated serial killers if you visit a web site like murder
if you visit a web site like murder
if you visit a web site like murder auction calm you can purchase a wide
auction calm you can purchase a wide
auction calm you can purchase a wide range of objects including paintings
range of objects including paintings
range of objects including paintings drawings lessers even hair clippings and
drawings lessers even hair clippings and
drawings lessers even hair clippings and fingernail clippings but perhaps one of
fingernail clippings but perhaps one of
fingernail clippings but perhaps one of the most controversial items of
the most controversial items of
the most controversial items of murderabilia is this this is a painting
murderabilia is this this is a painting
murderabilia is this this is a painting done by a man called John Wayne Gacy
done by a man called John Wayne Gacy
done by a man called John Wayne Gacy arrested in Chicago in 1980 subsequently
arrested in Chicago in 1980 subsequently
arrested in Chicago in 1980 subsequently convicted of the murder of 33 young men
convicted of the murder of 33 young men
convicted of the murder of 33 young men and executed in 1994 in his years on
and executed in 1994 in his years on
and executed in 1994 in his years on death row he did a large number of paint
death row he did a large number of paint
death row he did a large number of paint some of Disney characters and some of
some of Disney characters and some of
some of Disney characters and some of clowns
clowns
clowns and if you happen to have a spare 10 or
and if you happen to have a spare 10 or
and if you happen to have a spare 10 or $15,000 you can go online and buy one of
$15,000 you can go online and buy one of
$15,000 you can go online and buy one of these put it in your living room you’ll
these put it in your living room you’ll
these put it in your living room you’ll have the ultimate icebreaker and yes
have the ultimate icebreaker and yes
have the ultimate icebreaker and yes there’s yet another reason to be scared
there’s yet another reason to be scared
there’s yet another reason to be scared of clowns
of clowns
of clowns now obviously murderabilia is an extreme
now obviously murderabilia is an extreme
now obviously murderabilia is an extreme and controversial example of violence in
and controversial example of violence in
and controversial example of violence in popular culture and for that reason most
popular culture and for that reason most
popular culture and for that reason most people are happy simply to condemn it
people are happy simply to condemn it
people are happy simply to condemn it why because we don’t want to think too
why because we don’t want to think too
why because we don’t want to think too much about what it means that men like
much about what it means that men like
much about what it means that men like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy can become
Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy can become
Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy can become famous but remember Poe’s detective it’s
famous but remember Poe’s detective it’s
famous but remember Poe’s detective it’s precisely at the moment when we are most
precisely at the moment when we are most
precisely at the moment when we are most tempted to look away to bury our head in
tempted to look away to bury our head in
tempted to look away to bury our head in the sand to pull the wool over our own
the sand to pull the wool over our own
the sand to pull the wool over our own eyes that’s when we need to look at
eyes that’s when we need to look at
eyes that’s when we need to look at violence more closely than ever
violence more closely than ever
violence more closely than ever why one word fear many of you know that
why one word fear many of you know that
why one word fear many of you know that rates of violent crime have been
rates of violent crime have been
rates of violent crime have been declining in America for many years and
declining in America for many years and
declining in America for many years and hopefully we’ll continue to do so in the
hopefully we’ll continue to do so in the
hopefully we’ll continue to do so in the future but the rates of our fear about
future but the rates of our fear about
future but the rates of our fear about becoming victims of violent violent
becoming victims of violent violent
becoming victims of violent violent crime have remained remarkably
crime have remained remarkably
crime have remained remarkably persistent despite all the evidence that
persistent despite all the evidence that
persistent despite all the evidence that the majority of us are safer than ever
the majority of us are safer than ever
the majority of us are safer than ever this has led to a condition that we can
this has led to a condition that we can
this has led to a condition that we can call ambien fear by which I mean a
call ambien fear by which I mean a
call ambien fear by which I mean a constant low level of underlying anxiety
constant low level of underlying anxiety
constant low level of underlying anxiety that so many of us feel about
that so many of us feel about
that so many of us feel about potentially being a victim of violent
potentially being a victim of violent
potentially being a victim of violent crime and we’ve come to accept it as an
crime and we’ve come to accept it as an
crime and we’ve come to accept it as an ordinary part of our everyday lives now
ordinary part of our everyday lives now
ordinary part of our everyday lives now let me be clear I’m not discounting fear
let me be clear I’m not discounting fear
let me be clear I’m not discounting fear entirely there are some circumstances in
entirely there are some circumstances in
entirely there are some circumstances in which fear and caution are entirely
which fear and caution are entirely
which fear and caution are entirely appropriate but I do believe that if we
appropriate but I do believe that if we
appropriate but I do believe that if we consume and think about violence
consume and think about violence
consume and think about violence differently we can not only reduce our
differently we can not only reduce our
differently we can not only reduce our levels of ambient fear
levels of ambient fear
levels of ambient fear we can also improve our lives and the
we can also improve our lives and the
we can also improve our lives and the lives of others in both small and large
lives of others in both small and large
lives of others in both small and large ways how can we do that first as the
ways how can we do that first as the
ways how can we do that first as the famous critic Frederick Jamison once
famous critic Frederick Jamison once
famous critic Frederick Jamison once said always historicize part of the
said always historicize part of the
said always historicize part of the reason I’ve taken you on this
reason I’ve taken you on this
reason I’ve taken you on this Whistlestop tour of American history
Whistlestop tour of American history
Whistlestop tour of American history tonight is to demonstrate to you that we
tonight is to demonstrate to you that we
tonight is to demonstrate to you that we have always been fascinated by violence
have always been fascinated by violence
have always been fascinated by violence violence has always played a fundamental
violence has always played a fundamental
violence has always played a fundamental role in our culture this means we do not
role in our culture this means we do not
role in our culture this means we do not have the luxury of ignoring it or have
have the luxury of ignoring it or have
have the luxury of ignoring it or have simply condemning it instead we need to
simply condemning it instead we need to
simply condemning it instead we need to understand it we need to analyze it now
understand it we need to analyze it now
understand it we need to analyze it now the second thing we can do is to make
the second thing we can do is to make
the second thing we can do is to make sure that we have a balanced media diet
sure that we have a balanced media diet
sure that we have a balanced media diet we all know we should eat a variety of
we all know we should eat a variety of
we all know we should eat a variety of foods to have a healthy diet exactly the
foods to have a healthy diet exactly the
foods to have a healthy diet exactly the same is true of our media habits if the
same is true of our media habits if the
same is true of our media habits if the only show you watch is cops and the only
only show you watch is cops and the only
only show you watch is cops and the only websites you visit a tabloid crime sites
websites you visit a tabloid crime sites
websites you visit a tabloid crime sites in other words sources that routinely
in other words sources that routinely
in other words sources that routinely over report and sensationalized crime
over report and sensationalized crime
over report and sensationalized crime your levels of ambient fear are going to
your levels of ambient fear are going to
your levels of ambient fear are going to go through the roof if on the other hand
go through the roof if on the other hand
go through the roof if on the other hand you make varied and self-conscious
you make varied and self-conscious
you make varied and self-conscious choices about the forms of popular
choices about the forms of popular
choices about the forms of popular cultural violence you consume then you
cultural violence you consume then you
cultural violence you consume then you can manage your fear but that’s still
can manage your fear but that’s still
can manage your fear but that’s still not enough what we need to do is to look
not enough what we need to do is to look
not enough what we need to do is to look at and think about fear differently for
at and think about fear differently for
at and think about fear differently for example all of the instances of pop
example all of the instances of pop
example all of the instances of pop culture violence I’ve talked about to
culture violence I’ve talked about to
culture violence I’ve talked about to name our what the philosopher Flavio
name our what the philosopher Flavio
name our what the philosopher Flavio Jack would describe as subjective
Jack would describe as subjective
Jack would describe as subjective violence and by that he means violence
violence and by that he means violence
violence and by that he means violence that we can see very easily because it’s
that we can see very easily because it’s
that we can see very easily because it’s so visual what we need to do is learn
so visual what we need to do is learn
so visual what we need to do is learn how to see what she goes on to describe
how to see what she goes on to describe
how to see what she goes on to describe as objective violence that is the kind
as objective violence that is the kind
as objective violence that is the kind of violence that is more difficult to
of violence that is more difficult to
of violence that is more difficult to visualize and talking about poverty
visualize and talking about poverty
visualize and talking about poverty about racism about climate change
about racism about climate change
about racism about climate change these things may not be as visual as
these things may not be as visual as
these things may not be as visual as murder but they are just as if not more
murder but they are just as if not more
murder but they are just as if not more dangerous to our culture and perhaps
dangerous to our culture and perhaps
dangerous to our culture and perhaps it’s those things we should be worried
it’s those things we should be worried
it’s those things we should be worried about but that’s still not enough we
about but that’s still not enough we
about but that’s still not enough we need not only to identify the sources of
need not only to identify the sources of
need not only to identify the sources of violence but also do something about
violence but also do something about
violence but also do something about them to transform fear into action there
them to transform fear into action there
them to transform fear into action there are various things we can do we can
are various things we can do we can
are various things we can do we can resist the gentrification of our cities
resist the gentrification of our cities
resist the gentrification of our cities we can reject the politics of fear and
we can reject the politics of fear and
we can reject the politics of fear and hatred by welcoming refugees and
hatred by welcoming refugees and
hatred by welcoming refugees and immigrants as they begin their new lives
immigrants as they begin their new lives
immigrants as they begin their new lives in America and we can protect our
in America and we can protect our
in America and we can protect our environment whatever we do the point is
environment whatever we do the point is
environment whatever we do the point is we are identifying the source of
we are identifying the source of
we are identifying the source of violence we are pushing back against it
violence we are pushing back against it
violence we are pushing back against it by forming connections with others and
by forming connections with others and
by forming connections with others and we are transforming ourselves into
we are transforming ourselves into
we are transforming ourselves into agents of change and that I believe is
agents of change and that I believe is
agents of change and that I believe is the most effective response to the
the most effective response to the
the most effective response to the violence that continues to be at the
violence that continues to be at the
violence that continues to be at the heart of American life thank you
”
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