True crime at its best highlights the tensions within an afflicted society -- or as Joyce Carol Oates describes in her essay on the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the “profound and disturbing disequilibrium provoked by the commission of a crime.” In this month’s issue, David McConnell discusses his new book, American Honor Killings, which deals with murders committed by men and boys who believed their masculinity somehow threatened by their victims’ homosexuality. American Honor Killings examines the common thread that runs through each of the sometimes bizarre-sounding, seemingly disparate hate crimes discussed in the book: the ways in which homophobia in America is deeply concerned with masculinity and power.Head there to read those links.
For more on the relationship between masculinity and violence, here are some indispensable readings:
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Threats to Power
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American Honor Killings examines the common thread that runs through each of the sometimes bizarre-sounding, seemingly disparate hate crimes discussed in the book: the ways in which homophobia in America is deeply concerned with masculinity and power.
Strangely, I think the most homophobic individuals are the powerless ones, while the powerful egg them on strictly for "divide and conquer" purposes. I don't know which cohort is more disgusting.
Those are good links.
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