Study Notes on Racialised Violence and Media Representations
THE POLITICS OF MEDIATED REPRESENTATION
Moral Panics and Media Influence
The Concept of Moral Panics
Definition: Moral panic refers to the widespread fear or concern that a person or group poses a significant threat to societal values or interests.
Role of Social Media: Social media platforms contribute to constructing and perpetuating moral panics through increased visibility and rapid dissemination of information.
Example: The concept of 'coward punches' illustrates how media narratives can amplify fears surrounding issues of youth violence.
Evidence of Positive Effects of News Media
Positive Pro-social Effects: Research indicates that news media can foster positive behavior among young people, especially in the context of their behavior in the night-time economy.
Workshop Activity: The Cycle of Juvenile Justice
Four Stages of the Cycle in Juvenile Justice (Bernard & Kurlychek 2010)
Stage One: Juvenile crime perceived as unusually high, blamed on lenient treatment of offenders.
Stage Two: Crime still perceived as high; officials struggle between harsh punishment and inaction.
Stage Three: Crime viewed as high, blamed for being harshly punished or ignored.
Stage Four: Major reforms introduce lenient treatment to create balance between extremes.
Local Examples: Participants are encouraged to provide examples of media campaigns that reflect this cycle, particularly in relation to moral panics.
Racialised Violence and Hate Crime
Introduction to Racialised Violence
Aim: To critically examine racism's role in the media's construction of crime and deviance.
Concept of Race: Race is framed as a social construct, not biologically determined; it denotes perceived differences based on physical features, cultural backgrounds, etc.
Ethnicity: Defines cultural attributes of social groups, forming collective identities amidst diversity.
Racism Defined
Definition: A combination of aggressive beliefs and behaviors that exhibit hostility toward different races or ethnicities based on perceived superiority.
Hate Crimes: Defined as violence and hostility directed towards individuals or groups based on their actual or perceived membership in a marginalized community (e.g., racial, ethnic, sexual minority).
According to Perry (2009): Hate crimes signify the "othering" of visibly different groups, reinforcing power hierarchies.
Trends and Patterns of Hate Crimes in Australia
Victims: Associated primarily with groups such as gay men, Indigenous Australians, and ethnic minorities (e.g., Muslim, Jewish, Asian communities).
Characteristics of Hate Crime:
Typically involves violence against strangers.
Motivated by the victim's perceived group membership rather than their personal attributes.
Impact: Perpetrators aim to instill fear within entire communities, not just individuals.
Origins and Dynamics of Racism
Historical Context: Varies based on colonial histories and immigration patterns.
Example: In Australia, colonialism severely impacted Indigenous cultures and ongoing discrimination in social institutions.
Immigration: New arrivals often face prejudice and are depicted as social outsiders.
Identity and Gang Dynamics
Ambiguity of Identity
Identity is complex and multifaceted, often influenced by factors like ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status.
Representation of Youth Gangs: Localized interpretations of global gang images lead to various identities adopted by youth.
Views on Youth Gangs
Gangs seen as social constructs involving informal networks primarily focused on social engagement rather than organized crime.
Motivation for Gang Membership: Often tied to themes of identity, protection, and a response to social marginalization.
Australian research indicates gang formations are primarily social rather than criminal in nature, although some illegal activities occur.
Social Media and Youth
Media Influence on Youth Behaviour
Media representations can create self-fulfilling prophecies regarding youth behaviors, particularly when framed as gang-related.
Consequences of Perceived Gang Affiliations: Media narratives can empower or further marginalize youth groups, impacting their self-identification and behavior.
Islamic Perceptions and Community Stereotypes
Islamophobia and the Arab Other
Mainstream Media’s Role: Young Muslim men are often presented as threats due to sensationalized reporting, contributing to an image of collective guilt.
Historical Context: Negative perceptions of Muslims have roots in global conflicts and political discourse.
Combatting Islamophobia: Public campaigns, such as the #WISH initiative, aim to challenge negative portrayals and promote inclusion.
Case Study: The Cronulla Riots
Event Overview
Background: Riots at Cronulla Beach in 2005, involving violent actions against individuals identified as 'Middle Eastern'.
Media Amplification: Media highlighted racial tensions and framed the violence as a community defense of Australian identity.
Understanding Moral Panic
Enacted Melodrama: Situations perceived as narratives of good versus evil played out during riots, with clear demarcation between 'us' and 'them'.
Reinforcement of identities leads to ongoing cycles of violence and stereotype perpetuation.
Issues for Consideration
Discussion Questions
What constitutes a hate crime, and who are frequent targets?
Examine racism as a mediated phenomenon tied to identity and belonging.
Define Islamophobia and analyze its manifestations in media.
Different motivations behind moral panic during the Cronulla riots and their implications.
What occurred during the enacted melodrama of the Cronulla riots?
Further Reading
Asquith, N. (2008). Race Riots on the Beach: A Case for Criminalising Hate Speech?
Cunningham, C. et al. (2015). Hate Crime and the Media: The Impact on Victims and Society.