Violence - Slavoj Zizek

[Analyst]

Indispensable reading by "the Elvis of Cultural Theory". Widely available. Buy now.

[Analyst]

Zizek's core argument is that violence takes three forms: subjective, and two types of objective. Subjective violence is that enacted by agents (terror, crime, civil unrest) and which is highly visible because it disrupts the 'zero-level' normality of daily living. However, Zizek shows this normativity as performing a typically concealing function, obscuring objective violence, which occurs symbolically (through language) and systemically (as a function the consequences of 'our' political and economic systems' supposedly smooth functioning).
The author examines events ranging from the Katrina aftermath to the Paris riots of 2005. Check it out.