CRIM3602 Study Guide - Final Guide: Border Zone, Neoliberalism, Business Magnate
1 Dec 2018
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Document Summary
In a similar way, the sociology of causes within celebrity philanthropy engages with older modes of colonial domination. Claims made on the basis of empathy with an issue or audience, and interpreted as intellectual expertise, risks the reproduction of colonial and neoliberal solutions to problems. Angelina jolie"s humanitarian travels play a similar function to 19th century missionaries, charged with the moralisation of western enterprises in distant countries (boltanski, 1999). Her 2009 visit to maw la refugee camp in the thai-burma border zone sentimentalised the refugee situation for the donor north, negating more durable political responses to human rights and agency (richey & budabin, 2016). Her role is part of a moral spectacle of performance that reduces humanitarianism to pity politics. This is evident through the establishment and dissemination of cultural codes, language and symbols of poverty, gender inequality and distance exemplified in philanthropy. Celebrities carefully select to politically champion uncontroversial issues, albeit with some exception.
