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

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Triangular

MIMETIC DESIRE

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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

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"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

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"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

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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

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(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

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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

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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.

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Seven Hypothesis Allern &Pollack @SocialSciences

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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.

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(3) Possible Applications

to Contemporary Phenomena

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The industry of outrage

Strategic interventions in

scandals

New media and the mob

Scandals, democracy and

human rights

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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

jcannata@austral.edu.ar