Violence Pt. 3: Life and Death

Beyond various forms of discourse which perpetuate violence, there is a more nuanced dynamic in the relationship between life and death—in terms of which holds sway, and what they actually mean in a world where violence is almost a commodity. Here, I aim to demonstrate that the monopolization of life through death over the past century means that resistance is less about overt rebellion than a kind of symbolic refusal. I’m drawing on Foucault’s “The Right of Death and Power Over Life,” in the same anthology I’ve been using. First, it’s important to clarify a few things. The post-enlightenment transition meant that power was less particular but also more diluted. Whether medicine concerning itself more directly with the question of death; ideas regarding individuality diffusing social worlds; or simply war becoming more of a spectral backdrop than a literal contest or act, the monopolization of life effectively meant that death was both overlooked and unconsciously indulged in. Foucault describes how, <a href="https://medium.com/@nwilson11/violence-pt-3-life-and-death-03d2f024a8f6">Learn More</a>