Cultural Practices of Victimhood aims to set the agenda for a cultural study of victimhood. Words such as 'victim' and 'victimhood' represent shifting cultural signifiers, their meaning depending on the cultural context of their usage. Using case studies and through a practice-based approach, questions are asked about how victimhood is defined and constructed, whether in the ritual commemoration of refugees on Lampedusa, the artistic practices of an Aboriginal artist such as Richard Bell, or the media practices associated with police violence.
Consisting of contributions by cultural studies experts with an interest in victim studies, this book seeks a double readership. On the one hand, it intends to break new ground with regards to a 'cultural turn' in the field of criminology, in particular victimology. On the other hand, it also seeks to open up discussions about a 'victimological turn' in culture studies. The volume invites scholars and advanced students active in both domains to reflect on victimhood in cultural practices.
Consisting of contributions by cultural studies experts with an interest in victim studies, this book seeks a double readership. On the one hand, it intends to break new ground with regards to a 'cultural turn' in the field of criminology, in particular victimology. On the other hand, it also seeks to open up discussions about a 'victimological turn' in culture studies. The volume invites scholars and advanced students active in both domains to reflect on victimhood in cultural practices.
"This book transcends the classic boundaries between disciplines in a remarkable way. In this collection of essays, victimology and cultural studies not only meet each other side by side but mutually feed into their epistemologies in a constructive way. The in-depth study of ritual, artistic and media practices related to victimisation processes in various contexts demonstrates how becoming and being a victim has to be understood as a dynamic phenomenon, beyond individualistic and legal conceptions. This book re-defines victimhood and helps to give meaning to victims' experiences in a much needed way."
- Prof.dr. Ivo Aertsen, KU Leuven Institute of Criminology (LINC), Belgium
"This highly original edited volume sets a new agenda for victimology by situating the agency of victims in cultural practices. The authors and editors provide the first thorough exploration of this crucial intersection and open up a new research agenda which considers rituals, arts and the media as important sites where victimhood is performed. By carefully outlining processes and interaction situated in culture, the individual chapters offer important empirical insights to how victimhood is practiced from Berlin to Bosnia."
- Prof.dr. Susanne Buckley-Zistel, professor for Peace and Conflict Studies, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany
"This book provides absolutely novel insights in cultural practices relating to victimhood, centred in particular on ritual, artistic and media practices. Victimhood has been studied from many different angles, but the focus of this book will definitely enrich victimology. Through opening up the existing field of victimology, new and surprising insights with respect to victimhood and its narratives, scales, representations, mediatizations, twists, memorializations, complexities, absences and inversions will provide the reader with inspiration and food for thought."
- Prof.dr. Rianne Letschert, victimologist and rector magnificus of Maastricht University, The Netherlands
- Prof.dr. Ivo Aertsen, KU Leuven Institute of Criminology (LINC), Belgium
"This highly original edited volume sets a new agenda for victimology by situating the agency of victims in cultural practices. The authors and editors provide the first thorough exploration of this crucial intersection and open up a new research agenda which considers rituals, arts and the media as important sites where victimhood is performed. By carefully outlining processes and interaction situated in culture, the individual chapters offer important empirical insights to how victimhood is practiced from Berlin to Bosnia."
- Prof.dr. Susanne Buckley-Zistel, professor for Peace and Conflict Studies, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany
"This book provides absolutely novel insights in cultural practices relating to victimhood, centred in particular on ritual, artistic and media practices. Victimhood has been studied from many different angles, but the focus of this book will definitely enrich victimology. Through opening up the existing field of victimology, new and surprising insights with respect to victimhood and its narratives, scales, representations, mediatizations, twists, memorializations, complexities, absences and inversions will provide the reader with inspiration and food for thought."
- Prof.dr. Rianne Letschert, victimologist and rector magnificus of Maastricht University, The Netherlands