Last but not least: Media today as cruel as 2,000 years ago
The way the media depicts scenes of violence and the way people discuss them has not changed since ancient times. This is the conclusion reached by historian Martin Zimmermann of the University of Munich in a recently published anthology.
How cruelly the media portray scenes of violence and how they are discussed has not changed since ancient times. This is the conclusion reached by historian Martin Zimmermann from the University of Munich in a recently published anthology. According to the author, discussions about whether or not extreme forms of violence, such as the torture of execution victims, should be addressed have been going on throughout the history of the West. Just as it was discussed in Greece or Rome, the question is still relevant today and will always remain so in the future. In general, skepticism is appropriate when it comes to the depiction of extreme violence, as it primarily appeals to emotions rather than conveying information. This has often been used as a political tool throughout history.
According to the Munich historian, extreme violence is just as present in the media today as it was in the past. However, the portrayal of acts of war is more controlled and mechanical than in the past. This is due to a change in the function of the media. In contrast to the bloodlust of victory, legitimate self-defense is now at the forefront of the narrative. The historian sees today's idea of just war as constitutive in many states in the 20th and 21st centuries. Even if this hardly corresponds to reality.
Reading sample of the book "Extreme forms of violence in ancient images and texts" at www.utzverlag.de
According to the Munich historian, extreme violence is just as present in the media today as it was in the past. However, the portrayal of acts of war is more controlled and mechanical than in the past. This is due to a change in the function of the media. In contrast to the bloodlust of victory, legitimate self-defense is now at the forefront of the narrative. The historian sees today's idea of just war as constitutive in many states in the 20th and 21st centuries. Even if this hardly corresponds to reality.
Reading sample of the book "Extreme forms of violence in ancient images and texts" at www.utzverlag.de
