The University of Texas at Austin

  • You must have JavaScript enabled and the Flash 8 plugin installed to view this content.

    Get Adobe Flash Player
    Consult your browser's help file for instructions to enable JavaScript.

    World & Culture

    Debating the cultural evolution of war

    By Christopher Palmer
    Christopher Palmer
    Published: Jan. 20, 2010

    Stephen Sonnenberg and Thomas Palaima discuss war trauma and how our views on war have changed throughout history.

    Post a comment No comments
    • Quote 2
      Kristina said on Jan. 23, 2010 at 9:27 p.m.
      While I think it is important to try to appreciate, or at least acknowledge, the realities of war, I can't help but wonder whether an increase in the portrayal of violence in the public arena (by means of news media) would be so beneficial. Would it really increase our empathy for the veterans or would it simply further desensitize us to violence? Some of the mass grave images that are coming out of Haiti right now, for instance, are heart-breaking, but they are also fascinating and almost hypnotizing. It would be all too easy for the media to capitalize on this macabre rubber-necking by filling the evening news with graphic bloodshed under the guise of increasing our awareness of war.

    Leave a comment

    Comments are moderated and may not display immediately on this page after clicking 'Submit Comment.' They will be posted if they stick to the topic and contribute to the conversation. They will not be published if they contain or link to abusive material, personal attacks, profanity or spam.

     

    Share:
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • StumbleUpon
    • Facebook
    • Google Bookmarks
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Print
    • email

    Download: Save as .mp4 | Podcast (iTunes)

    Related Topics

    , , , , , , , , ,

    More Video   

    • From ‘Technopolis’ to ‘Coopetition’
    • Old Drug Holds New Promise
    • Roll the Bones
      • Roll the Bones
        Professor Tim Rowe's CT scans of fossils, plants and bones are exquisite...
        (4:00)
        Roll the Bones
    • Next-Gen Gene Sequencing
    • Introducing cloaking
      • Introducing cloaking
        Invisibility cloaking is happening right now in a basement laboratory at the university....
        (7:53)
        Introducing cloaking
    • Fighting Invasive Species, Zombie Style
    • Older Posts

  • More Video

    • ...
    From ‘Technopolis’ to ‘Coopetition’
    From ‘Technopolis’ to ‘Coopetition’
    John Sibley Butler director of the IC² Institute spoke on the Place-Based Innovation...
    (5:52)
    Old Drug Holds New Promise
    Old Drug Holds New Promise
    Exciting new findings in UT’s neurobiology labs suggest that rapamycin, an FDA-approved...
    (1:09)
    Roll the Bones
    Roll the Bones
    In this video from NPR’s Science Friday, UT paleontologist Tim Rowe describes his...
    (4:00)
    Thirteen rules for school
    Thirteen rules for school
    What do you need to know about your first day of college classes? Get that advice...
    (13:54)
    On citizenship and naturalization
    On citizenship and naturalization
    In this seventh installment of the “Border Views” video series, John...
    (2:10)
    The “No Debate” debate
    The “No Debate” debate
    Using online communications outlets on their own terms, political candidates no longer...
    (1:36)
    Hearts of Texas helps Austin community and beyond
    Hearts of Texas helps Austin community and beyond
    Since 1996, the Hearts of Texas Charitable Campaign has provided an easy and efficient...
    (3:49)
    Early voting: It's now or never for Bill White
    Early voting: It's now or never for Bill White
    In the Texas gubernatorial race, Bill White is considered the most viable Democratic...
    (1:52)