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Girard’s SCAPEGOAT MECHANiSM
AND MEDiA SCANDALS
@JuanCannata - 2015
HEYTHROPCOLLEGESEMINAR
UNIVERSITYOFLONDON
Does Girard’s theory work for
studying contemporary
media scandals?
@JuanCannata
Mimetic Theory
Comparison between
Mimetic Theory
and Social Sciences
Possible
applications
(1)
(2)
(3)
@JuanCannata
THREE FIELDS Literary studies; Cultural Anthropology; Biblical Studies.
[Kirwan, 2004]
@JuanCannata
THREE FIELDS Literary studies; Cultural Anthropology; Biblical Studies.
'revelation of the lie' 'scapegoat mechanism' 'mimetic contagion'
[Kirwan, 2004]
@JuanCannata
(1) Mimetic Theory
"We must understand that desire itself is essentially mimetic, directed toward
an object desired by the model. [...] Two desires converging on the same object
are bound to clash. Thus, mimesis coupled with desire leads automatically
to conflict. However, humans always seen half blind to this conjunction, unable to perceive it as a cause of
rivalry" (Girard, 1977:146).
MIMETIC DESIRE
1. @JuanCannata
Triangular
MIMETIC DESIRE
1. @JuanCannata
Object
Model Subject
"If acquisitive mimesis divides by leading two or more individuals to
converge on one and the same object with a view to appropriating it,
conflictual mimesis will inevitably unify by leading two or more individuals to
converge on one and the same adversary that all wish to strike down"
(Girard, 1987:26).
VIOLENCE
2. @JuanCannata
"The scapegoat murder ends the crisis, since the transference against it is
unanimous". That is the importance of the scapegoat mechanism: "it channels
the collective violence against one arbitrary chosen member of
community" (Girard, 2006:62).
SACRIFICE
3. @JuanCannata
"Girard argues that ritual has primarily a propitiatory function: it renews the therapeutic effects of the original
mobilization of surrogate victimage by canalizing violence along sacrally
endorsed channels. Prohibition, on the other hand, serves a predominantly
prophylactic function: it incarnates social hierarchies and forms of differentiation
that prevent conflictual mimesis by proscribing those behaviours that might
lead, or have led in the past, to social disintegration" (Fleming, 2004:54).
INSTITUTIONS
4. @JuanCannata
It is impossible to see the innocence of the victim in archaic cultures, but it has
been unveiled by Judaeo-Christian tradition. In that context, it was possible
to recognize the crime of the founding murder of a surrogate victim and, for the
very first time in history, a cultural tradition could begin that for the first time defends victims against accusers
(Girard, 2012; 1987:Book II).
RELEVATION
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(a) Scandal Proliferation
The seeking of culprits continues, but the lynching has lost its medicinal
effect.
POST-SACRIFICIAL
6. @JuanCannata
(b) Victimization
“As soon as such people view themselves as victims the aggression against their enemies becomes limitless"
(Palaver, 2008:3-4)
(2) Comparison between Mimetic Theory and Social Sciences
@JuanCannata
Mimetic crisis Skandalon
Anthropological
1
Institutional Sociological
2
Standarized prevention Management
Political Scandal Media Scandal
LEVELS OF DEALING WITH SCANDAL
3
1st wave – Necessary for healthy democracy 2nd wave – Possible intrumentalization for damaging others
@JuanCannata
Cromañón Tragedy in Buenos Aires – December 2004
1997 2000 2004 2006 2012
1st wave 2nd wave
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FEATURES OF SCANDAL (1) There must be a violation of fixed values, norms or moral codes; (2) the events in question must come into public spotlight; (3) there must be people shaken and shocked by the 'scandalous situation'; (4) there must be players who are willing to voice their criticism in public; (5) and, finally, the situation must threaten -even up to total destruction- the reputation and political capital of the accused.
@JuanCannata
Seven Hypothesis Allern &Pollack @SocialSciences
@JuanCannata
Allern & Pollack Hypothesis Girard’s Mimetic Theory
The hypothesis of increased incidence of political scandals.
Proliferation of scandals.
The hypothesis of individualization. From 'all against all' to 'all against one'.
The hypothesis of sensationalizing the trivial.
The random selection of the scapegoat.
The herd hypothesis. Mimesis and rivalry.
The command hypothesis. The 'first-stone' necessity and the accusers.
The gender hypothesis. Girard's 'patterns of persecution'.
The demonization hypothesis. Lynching of the victim.
@JuanCannata
Media organizations act as judges and
arbiters of that ritual: the problem is that there is no right to
appeal to a supreme court.
@JuanCannata
(3) Possible Applications
to Contemporary Phenomena
@JuanCannata
The industry of outrage
Strategic interventions in
scandals
New media and the mob
Scandals, democracy and
human rights
@JuanCannata
TENSIONS AND FURTHER QUESTIONS
revelation of evil?
perpetration of damage?
HUMAN RIGHTS?
@JuanCannata
@JuanCannata
School of Communication
Austral University
Argentina
Facultad de Comunicación
Universidad Austral
Argentina
www.austral.edu.ar/comunicacion