Political Violence

“It is indeed possible to argue watching the films this week that there is no hope; that the general tendency of mankind when it comes to organizing the political is to revert to violence; that Hobbes’ war of all against all’ defines how states act in relation both to their own citizens and to the citizens of other countries. Even when civil order breaks down, the movement is not towards reconciliation and peace but towards violence, retribution, vengeance and retaliation. Enemies of the state become targets for violence and elimination, and political life degenerates into the brutal interplay of violent forces. If all this is true, then what place is there for hopefulness or ethics, or to put it another way, for reconciliation in political life?”

Comment; in your discussion draw from this week’s films and the reading for this week. The point of these essays is for you not to relate what’s in these films and books but to use the book as a kind of ongoing commentary to what’s in the film and to contrast the films with as much argument as you can. analytically contrast the films and the characters, and weave the book into an analytical approach to the films. each film must be mentioned and analyzed, along with the book.

FILMS:
Munich
District 9
Rendition
The Grey Zone

READING:
Michael Herr, Dispatches