Distant Suffering: Morality, Media and Politics (Cambridge Cultural Social Studies)

Cambridge Cultural Social Studies

by Luc Boltanski, Graham D. Burchell (Translator)

Images of starving children, bombed villages and mass graves brought to us by television in the comfort of our homes implicitly call on us to act. What can we do when the suffering we see is so distant and we feel powerless compared with the forces behind the suffering? Luc Boltanski examines the ways in which, since the end of the eighteenth century, spectators have tried to respond acceptably to what they have seen, and discusses whether there remains a place for pity in modern politics.

Genres: Sociology, Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Anthropology, Theory

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Luc Boltanski is a French sociologist, Professor at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Paris, and founder of the Groupe de Sociologie Politique et Morale, known as the leading figure in the new "pragmatic" school of French sociology.

Reviews

[Aivaras Žukauskas · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5.

No doubt this contains some very interesting ideas, especially as it pertains to the triad of spectator-perpetrator-victim. The internal dynamics are complex, and this gives a good glimpse into them, as well as in their influence on the so called 'politics of pity'.

At the same time it does lack cohesion, as the text itself is opaque. Furthermore, it seems to really lack focus - while the initial discussion (as well as the cover of the back, insignificant as it may be) implies an analysis of the mediatization of humanitarianism and related questions, a large chunk of the book is instead dedicated to discussions of literature, sadism and other topics. While the intention, and connection to the main topic is understandable, it does not really leave much for a more in-depth analysis of contemporary media spaces, especially as they relate to the issues of humanitarianism. A bit of a disappointment, but maybe it's just me.

[Martina_ArsGoetia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Testo un pò complesso per chi si approccia per la prima volta ad un argomento del genere. L'ho trovato parecchio ripetitivo e su certe questioni allungava troppo il contesto. Alcuni capitoli li ho dovuti saltare perché non importanti o interessanti. Per la tematica ho apprezzato altri libri e ne ho in lista di leggerne altri che mi ispirano molto più rispetto a questo.

[Andréa L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Petit coup de gueule qui peut s'élargir à de nombreux essais en sciences humaines : pourquoi, pourquoi, pourquoi utiliser des mots si compliqués et des phrases de vingt lignes ? Parce que le propos (même si je dois avouer ne pas avoir tout compris) est intéressant, seulement, il n'est accessible qu'à une minorité, et c'est dommage.
Travaux qui m'avaient l'air tout de même bien complets.

[Tomo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very hard to read. I think it was because it was a translated book. French is beautiful, but not really when translated into English. I am sure this reads better in French!

[«marghe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Non ho mai sofferto così tanto leggendo un libro, e non in senso buono. Non riuscivo fisicamente a leggerlo, è stato un calvario. Scritto malissimo e contenuti difficili da capire alla prima lettura.

[Sanni]

Hyvä peruskatsaus kärsimyksen ja katsomisen suhteeseen. Tosin jäin pohtimaan käännöksen laatua. Toinen lukemani kirja Boltanskilta oli huomattavasti tolkullisempi.