Whiteness at the abyss: reflections on a scene of attack
DOI
10.1057/s41282-024-00466-0
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
1-1-2024
Publication Title
Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society
ISSN
10880763
Keywords
Discursive strategies, Intimidation, Online attacks, White nationalism, Whiteness
Abstract
This paper focusses on a series of online attacks that the author was subjected to after comments he had made in a closed lecture on the topic of ‘white anxiety’ were cut from the zoom recording and distributed widely online with the clear intent of causing outrage. The analysis of the material, which combines thematic, discourse analytic and personal reflections, yielded a series of core themes: 1) the role of the messages in consolidating an identity, 2) performative offensiveness, 3) perverse intimidations, 4) accusations/denials/expressions of racism, 5) the race-traitor as ideological dilemma, 6) antisemitism and 7) aggressive cordiality. The paper closes with a few reflections on the author’s enunciative position in respect of the attacks.
Open Access
Hybrid_Gold
Repository Citation
Hook, D. (2024). Whiteness at the abyss: reflections on a scene of attack. Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41282-024-00466-0