„Politik den Profis überlassen“? Konstellationen des Invektiven im Kontext von Demonstrationen und Bürgerbeteiligung
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Daphne Weber
Abstract
The article focuses on patronising, paternalistic invectives articulated by speakers in powerful positions. Contemporary discourses on invectives, rudeness and insults mainly focus on articulations within civil society, such as racist speech or expressions of resentment against politicians or “the elites”. Yet what happens when “the elites” themselves take invective stances? I explore this question using two examples: invectives launched against the social movement Fridays for Future and against demonstrators in the Czech Republic. In both instances, the speakers’ positions are elevated and made prominent through tribunes and microphones as well as through distribution in high-circulation newspapers. The speakers self-positioning as being “above” the crowd effects a devaluing of the mob, contributing to a long tradition of devaluation of the (poor) people. The scope of action of the adressed is restricted, as they first of all are forced to react and reject the insult. The “license” to devalue the mob is intertwined with the “license” for political participation: who is licensed to assign value and hold powerful positions, versus who must struggle to participate and be heard.
Abstract
The article focuses on patronising, paternalistic invectives articulated by speakers in powerful positions. Contemporary discourses on invectives, rudeness and insults mainly focus on articulations within civil society, such as racist speech or expressions of resentment against politicians or “the elites”. Yet what happens when “the elites” themselves take invective stances? I explore this question using two examples: invectives launched against the social movement Fridays for Future and against demonstrators in the Czech Republic. In both instances, the speakers’ positions are elevated and made prominent through tribunes and microphones as well as through distribution in high-circulation newspapers. The speakers self-positioning as being “above” the crowd effects a devaluing of the mob, contributing to a long tradition of devaluation of the (poor) people. The scope of action of the adressed is restricted, as they first of all are forced to react and reject the insult. The “license” to devalue the mob is intertwined with the “license” for political participation: who is licensed to assign value and hold powerful positions, versus who must struggle to participate and be heard.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction: Discourse Analysis and Invectivity 1
- Notes on Invectivity and Metainvectivity 11
- Intentionalität vs. Normierung. Zu einem systematischen Aspekt des Diskriminierungsbegriffs 27
- who called them, Sunday *Indians or Shwannaks, that is, white people, the most opprobrious name they could invent. Powerful Constructions in the Service of Verbal Devaluation 45
- Unfreiwillige Publikumsinvektive und metainvektive Resonanz 71
- The Gammler as Invective Social Figure. A Proposal for Narrative Discourse Analysis 93
- „Politik den Profis überlassen“? Konstellationen des Invektiven im Kontext von Demonstrationen und Bürgerbeteiligung 115
- „Der Draht ist gut, hält uns ab vom dummen Leben“ 129
- Invektiven im Genozid. Zu Zeugnissen von überlebenden Tutsi 149
- Mention and Use. Invective and Metainvective Discourse Among Football Fans 177
- Vernetzung der Diskurse in der Invektive. Der Fall Silvia Romano 199
- Index 231
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction: Discourse Analysis and Invectivity 1
- Notes on Invectivity and Metainvectivity 11
- Intentionalität vs. Normierung. Zu einem systematischen Aspekt des Diskriminierungsbegriffs 27
- who called them, Sunday *Indians or Shwannaks, that is, white people, the most opprobrious name they could invent. Powerful Constructions in the Service of Verbal Devaluation 45
- Unfreiwillige Publikumsinvektive und metainvektive Resonanz 71
- The Gammler as Invective Social Figure. A Proposal for Narrative Discourse Analysis 93
- „Politik den Profis überlassen“? Konstellationen des Invektiven im Kontext von Demonstrationen und Bürgerbeteiligung 115
- „Der Draht ist gut, hält uns ab vom dummen Leben“ 129
- Invektiven im Genozid. Zu Zeugnissen von überlebenden Tutsi 149
- Mention and Use. Invective and Metainvective Discourse Among Football Fans 177
- Vernetzung der Diskurse in der Invektive. Der Fall Silvia Romano 199
- Index 231
