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Public Lecture - Atrocities: Anglo-American Violence in Modern War - Melbourne

Published: 18 March 2009

Professor Joanna Bourke with an introduction by Professor Rae Frances, Dean of Arts, Monash University

Atrocity has become the defining event of our time. It has always been a normative concept, used to create a hierarchy of perpetration and suffering. In modern Britain, America, and Australia, the “body as spectacle” is central to politics. In this talk, Professor Burke will be reflecting on our history of carrying out acts of spectacular cruelty in wartime. Through an analysis of film, photographs, and diaries, she will explore the main narratives that are employed to “make sense” of atrocities and war crimes.

Joanna Bourke is Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London. She is the award-winning author of nine books on Irish history, gender and "the body", the history of psychological thought, modern warfare, the emotions, and sexual violence. She is currently writing a history of humanity and animality.

Time: 6 to 7.30 pm
Date: Tuesday 7 April to Monday 1 January, 2009
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria

For further information contact:
Name: Kerrie alexander
Telephone: +61 3 9902 0116
Email: kerrie.alexander@arts.monash.edu.au
Website: School of Historical Studies website.