ANTHROP 1AB3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Hegemonic Masculinity, Counting Coup, Jab

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHROP 1AB3
• Professor: Karen Mc Garry

Document Summary

Anthropologists believe that collective acts of aggression and violence are culturally constructed (created by the culture we live in). In some societies, acts of violence are deemed necessary for constructing a sense of. Hegemonic masculinty, or dominant cultural ideals of maleness: example #1: counting coup among the kiowa, hegemonic masculinity means being a leader, being of high rank politically, being brave and fearless. How do nation- states legitimize violence: note that modern nation-states must publicly justify acts of collective violence and they frequently use the mass media to deliver their message. Their discourse: used language to distance themselves from the consequences of actions, example: use of technostrategic language (cid:862)the dest(cid:396)u(cid:272)tio(cid:374) of hu(cid:373)a(cid:374) li(cid:448)es (cid:449)as hidde(cid:374) (cid:271)ehi(cid:374)d (cid:373)etapho(cid:396)s a(cid:374)d euphe(cid:373)is(cid:373)s. (cid:863) Technostrategic language involves use of domestic language: eg. Christmas tree farms (bombs and missiles that were re-entry vehicles: carpet bombing. The threat or use of physical violence is a means of creating and legitimizing the nation-state (pierre van den berghe)