Serial Killer Pedagogy

Chapman University Chapman University Digital Commons Education Faculty Articles and Research College of Educational Studies 1995 Serial Killer Pedagogy Peter McLaren Chapman University, mclaren@chapman.edu Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/education_articles Part of the Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Educational Sociology Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Other Sociology Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, and the Sociology of Culture Commons Recommended Citation McLaren, P. (1995). Serial killer pedagogy. Taboo, 1: 163-184. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Educational Studies at Chapman University Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Education Faculty Articles and Research by an authorized administrator of Chapman University Digital Commons. For more information, please contact laughtin@chapman.edu. Serial Killer Pedagogy Comments This article was originally published in Taboo, volume 1, in 1995. Copyright Caddo Gap Press. This material may not be reproduced, distributed, or sold without specific permission of Caddo Gap Press. This article is available at Chapman University Digital Commons: http://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/education_articles/167 SEEOAL KILLER PEDAGOGY P e te r M c L a ren I w ill n o t m in c e m y w o rd s . h is to ry . W e liv e a t a p re c a rio u s m o m e n t in R e la tio n s o f s u b je c tio n , s u f f e r in g , d is p o s s e s s io n , a n d c o n te n ^ t fo r h u m a n d ig n ity a n d th e s a n c tity o f life a re a t th e c e n te r o f s o c ia l e x is te n c e . E m o tio n a l d is lo c a tio n , m o ra l s ic k n e s s and in d iv id u a l h e lp le s sn e s s re m a in a u b iq u ito u s fe a tu re o f o u r tim e . O u r m u c h h e ra ld e d fo rm o f d e m o c ra c y h a s b e c o m e , u n b e k n o w n s t to m a n y A m e ric a n s , s u b v e r te d b y its c o n tr a d ic to r y r e la tio n s h ip to th e v e r y o b je c t o f it h u m a n fre e d o m , s o c ia l ju s tic e , a n d a to le ra n c e a n d re s p e c t fo r a d d re ss ; d iffe re n c e . I n th e c u r re n t h is to r ic a l ju n c tu r e , d is c o u r s e s o f d e m o c r a c y c o n tin u e to m a s q u e r a d e a s d is in te r e s te d s o lic ita tio n s , a n d to r e v e a l th e m s e lv e s a s in c o m m e n s u r a b le w ith th e s tr u g g le f o r s o c ia l e q u a lity . T h e re a lity and p ro m is e o f d e m o cra c y in th e U n ite d S ta te s has been in v a lid a te d b y th e a s c e n d a n c y o f n e w p o s tm o d e r n in s titu tio n a liz a tio n s o f b ru ta lity and d o m in a tio n . th e p ro life ra tio n of new and s in is te r s tru c tu re s of T h is h a s b e e n fo llo w e d b y a n e v e r fa in te r c h o ru s o f d is c o n te n t a s th e v o ic e s o f th e p o w e rle s s a n d th e m a rg in a liz e d g ro w in c re a sin g ly d e s p o n d e n t o r e ls e a re c lu b b e d in to o b liv io n b y th e c ra c k lm g s w iftn e ss o f p o lic e b a to n s . Piedatoiy Qiltiire: Ready, Aim, Rre! A lth o u ^ p a in a n d s u ffe rin g c o n tin u e to p o llu te th e a tm o s p h e re o f s o c ia l ju s tic e in th e W e s t, th e c ire a m o f d e m o c ra c y a n d th e s tru g g le to b rin g it a b o u t h a s ta k e n o n a n e w in te n s ity , a s re c e n t e v e n ts in E a s te rn E u ro p e a tte s t. In its u n a n n o u n c e d re tre a t in th e U n ite d S ta te s o v e r th e p a s t d e c a d e , d e m o c ra c y h a s m a n a g e d to re c re a te p o w e r th ro u g h th e s p e c ta c u la riz a tio n o f its a fte r-im a g e , th a t is , th r o u ^ im a g e m a n a g e m e n t a n d th e c re a tio n o f n e w n a tio n a l m y th s o f id e n tity p rim a rily th r o u # i th e te c h n iq u e s o f th e m a s s m e d ia . T h e p re v a ilin g re fe re n ts a ro u n d w h ic h th e n o tio n o f p u b lic c itiz e n ry is c u r r e n tly c o n s tr u c te d h a v e b e e n s te e r e d in th e o m in o u s d ir e c tio n o f th e s o c ia l lo g ic o f p ro d u c tio n a n d c o n s u m p tio n . B u y e rs a re b e g in n in g to m e r g e c u ltu r a lly w ith th e ir c o m m o d itie s w h ile h u m a n a g e n c y is b e c o m in g 164 P e te r M c L a r e n 165 S e r ia l K ille r P e d a g o g y S o c ia l im p u ls e s fo r w h ile th e ir u s e r s h a v e b e e n r e d u c e d to s c r a p s o f f ig u r a tiv e m a c h in e r y , e q u a lity , lib e rty , a n d s o c ia l ju s tic e h a v e b e e n fla tte n e d o u t b y th e m a s s a b s o r b e d in to th e s o c ia l e th ic s o f th e m a r k e tp la c e . p a rtia l s u b je c ts in th e ra g a n d b o n e s h o p o f p re d a to ry c u ltu re , m a n ic h e a n m e d ia u n til th e y h a v e b e c o m e c a ta le p tic a lly r ig id ^ \h ile p o s tm o d e r n a lle g o rie s o f " u s " a g a in s t " th e m ," o f " s e l f a g a in s t " o th e r ." im a g e s th r e a te n to s te a l v d ia t w a s o n c e k n o w n a s th e " s o u l." th e c u ltu r a l, a n d th e h u m a n h a v e b e e n s u b s u m e d w ith in c a p ita l. W e n o w in h a b it p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e . P re d a to ry c u ltu re is a fie ld o f T h e s o c ia l , T h is is in v is ib ility — o f s ta lk e r s a n d v ic tim s — p r e c is e ly b e c a u s e it is s o o b v io u s . p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e . H a v e flm . G iv e n th e c u r r e n t c o n d itio n o f e n d - o f - th e - c e n tu ry e n n u i a n d p a r a n o ia , I f s o b v io u s n e s s im m u n iz e s its v ic tim s a g a in s t a fu ll d is c lo s u re o f its w e h a v e a rriv e d a t th e z e ro -d e g re e re a lity o f th e k in d th a t o n c e o n ly m e n a c in g c a p a b ilitie s . g ra c e d th e p a g e s o f s u rre a lis t m a n ife sto s o r p u n k fa n z in e s . I n p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e id e n tity is f a s h io n e d m a in ly a n d o f te n v io le n tly B r e t o n 's " s in p le s t S u rre a lis t a c t" — T irin g a p is to l in to a A n d re c ro w d of a ro u n d th e e x c e ss e s o f m a rk e tin g a n d c o n s u n p tio n a n d th e n a tu ra l s o c ia l s tra n g e rs — is n o lo n g e r ju s t a s y m b o lic d is ru p tio n o f th e g ru d g in g ly r e la tio n s o f p o s t- in d u s tr ia l c a p ita lis m . m u n d a n e a s p e c ts o f e v e ry d a y life o r a s y m b o lic d is lo c a tio n c irc u la tin g in L ife is liv e d th r o u ^ speed te c h n o lo g y in a n tic ip a tio n o f r e c u r r in g a c c id e n ts o f id e n tity a n d e n d le s s a v a n t g a rd e b ro a d s h e e ts . d is c u r s iv e c o llis io n s w ith o th e r n e s s b e c a u s e it is v ir tu a lly im p o s s ib le in h is to r ic a l c o n ju n c tu r e th a t p e o p le a r e r e a lly s h o o tin g b lin d ly in to c r o w d s : It is p re c is e ly in th e c u rre n t N o rth A m e ric a n p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e to b e c o te n p D ra l w ith w h a t o n e b o th o b s e r v e s a n d a t c h ild re n in h a m b u rg e r e s ta b lis h m e n ts , a t e n p lo y e e s a n d e n ^ lo y e r s in d e s ire s . P r e d a to r y c u ltu r e is th e le f t- o v e r d e tr iu s o f b o u r g e o is c u ltu r e fa c to rie s , a t te a c h e rs a n d c la s sm a te s in s c h o o ls , a t c iv il s e rv a n ts in s trip p e d o f its a rro g a n t p re te n s e to c iv ility a n d c u ltu ra l ly ric is m a n d e n q ^ lo y m e n t o f f ic e s a n d a t f e m a le e n g in e e r in g s tu d e n ts in u n iv e r s ity r e p la c e d b y a s ta r k o b s e s s io n w ith p o w e r f e d b y th e v o r a c io u s n e s s o f s e m in a r ro o m s . c a p i t a l i s m 's g l o b a l v o y a g e . m a s s a c re s fo u rte e n w o m e n b e c a u s e o f th e ir g e n d e r. I t is a c u ltu re o f u n iv e rs a lis m c o m p re s s e d in to lo c a l tim e . The I n M o n tre a l, a t E c o le P o ly te c h n iq u e , M a rc L e p in e A n d in th e U n ite d S ta te s , th rill-s e e k in g a rso n is ts d e s tro y th o u s a n d s o f h o m e s in L o s A n g e le s p re d a to ry c u ltu re n a tu ra lrz e d b y a n d e n tre n c h e d in p rim itiv e a c c u m u la tio n a n d th e S o u th e r n C a lif o r n ia c o a s tlin e . h a s e x c e e d e d e v e n its o w n w ild e s t fa n ta s ie s o f a c q u is itio n a n d h a s a r e m u r d e r in g o th e r c h ild r e n f o r th e ir s ta tu s - lin e f o o t g e a r — n o t to d r o p p e d its f a c a d e o f c iv ility a n d its w in d o w - d r e s s in g c o m p a s s io n . I t c a n m e n tio n th e lu rid re a lity o f L A . s ta n d n a k e d in its u n h o ly s p le n d o r; it c a n m a k e n o c la im s to b e ju s t a n d fa ir; it c a n n o w s u rv iv e w ith o u t a rtifa c e o r c a m o u fla g e . A b a n d o n in g th e h is to r ic a l c r ite r ia f o r m a k in g e th ic a l ju d g m e n ts , In s o m e u rb a n s e ttin g s , c h ild re n " d r iv e - b y s ." I n O h io , a f iv e y e a r - o ld b o y s e t a f ir e th a t k ille d h is b a b y s is te r , a p p a r e n t l y t h r o u ^ t h e i n f l u e n c e o f B e a v is a n d B u tth e a d . A n e w s e c re t w e a p o n h a s b e e n u n v e ile d b y th e F B I: th e m u s ic o f p re d a to ry c u ltu re — re fu s e s to w a g e r o n th e s id e o f ra d ic a l h o p e ; in s te a d , M itc h M lle r . T h e o ld - tim e f r ie n d ly s o u n d s th a t A m e ric a n s u s e d to " s in g it c le a v e s f a ls e h o p e o u t o f th e e x c r e m e n t o f im a g e - v a lu e . I t c o lla p s e s a ll a lo n g w ith " v d iile f o llo w in g th e b o u n c in g d o ts th a t k e p t th e m in tim e d is tin c tio n s b e tw e e n th e re a l a n d th e im a g in a iy , a n d s e e k s to c o n c e a l w ith th e w o r d s w e re b la s te d a t D a v id K o r e s h a n d h is B r a n c h D a v id ia n s u n d e r its c lo v e n h o o f its o w n s im u la tin g a c tiv ity . P r e d a to iy c u ltu r e is th e (a p p a re n tly , to n o a v a il) a s a fo rm o f p s y c h o lo g ic a l to rtu re . G re a t D e c e iv e r. It m a rk s th e a s c e n d a n c y o f th e d e h y d ra te d im a g in a tio n th a t h a s lo s t its c a p a c ity to d re a m o th e r w is e . It is th e c u ltu re o f e ro tic iz e d v ic tim s a n d d e c a ffe in a te d re v o lu tio n a rie s . W e a re a ll its s o n s a n d d a u g h te rs . L o r e n a B o b b itt b e c o m e s e n s h r in e d a s a n e m b le m o f r a d ic a l f e m in is t r e s i s t a n c e ; M r . B o b b i t t 's p e n i s s u r g e r y d o e s m o r e d a m a g e t o F r e u d 's c a s tr a tio n c o n p le x th a n th e c o n tr o v e r s ia l th e o r ie s o f J e f f re y M a s s o n . C h a r t- to p p in g p o p s o n g s r e p la c e s o m b e r h y m n s a t B r itis h f u n e r a ls : T h e c a p ita lis t f e a r th a t f u e ls p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e is m a d e to f u n c tio n a t a re c e n t s u rv e y b y th e C re m a tio n S o c ie ty re v e a ls th a t s o n g s b y W h itn e y th e w o r ld le v e l th r o u g h th e in s ta lla tio n o f n e c e s s a r y c r is e s , b o th m o n e ta r y H o u s to n , K y lie M n o g u e a n d P h il C o llin s a re a m o n g th e m o s t fre q u e n tly a n d s o c ia l. r e q u e s te d s o n g s a t f u n e r a ls , p r o m p tin g c r e m a to r iu m m a n a g e r s to in v e s t Q im p u te rs h a v e b e c o m e th e n e w e n tre p re n e u rs o f h is to ry 166 P e te r M c L a re n S e r ia l K ille r P e d a g o g y c o n s id e ra b le s u m s o f m o n e y in h ig h -te c h C D p la y e re . m a n u fa c tu re d E s te e m e d s c ie n tis ts a re h e lp in g to p ro p e l g e n e tic s in to th e a g e o f th e b o d y -a s -th e m e -p a rk . S ta rg e n e C o m p a n y , c o -fo u n d e d b y a U n ite d S ta te s d e s ire s , w a itin g to a u d itio n fo r 167 th e ro le o f c e n tra l p ro ta g o n is t in th e a g ita te d d ra m a s o f o u r d a ily e x is te n c e a n d th e n e x t T V N o b e l- P r iz e - w in n in g s c ie n tis t, p la n s to m a r k e t c e le b r ity D N A s tr a n d s a s m o v ie . R e c e n tly th e G a le r ie a t T a to u in B e v e r ly H ills , h a n g o u t f o r m o v ie fe tis h o b je c ts fo r th e s ta r-stru c k . D N A w ill b e m a g n ifie d a n d m a s s s ta r s a n d v e n tu r e c a p ita lis ts a n d o th e r " f u n " p e o p le , w a s s e llin g th e p r o d u c e d f o r p u b lic c o n s u n q jtio n u n til it is v is ib le to th e e y e , th e n p a in tin g s o f s e ria l k ille r, J o h n W a y n e G a c y . G a c y w a s re c e n tly e x e c u te d la m in a te d a lo n g s id e a p h o to a n d a s h o rt b io g ra p h y o f th e s ta r. b y le th a l in je c tio n fo r th e s e x -to rtu re s la y in g s o f 3 3 b o y s a n d y o u n g m e n In N e w Y o rk C ity , m a n u fa c tu re rs o f b u lle t p r o o f v e s ts a re s ta rtin g i n t h e C h i c a g o a r e a . F o r a s l i t t l e a s $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 p e r p a i n t i n g , i t ’s p o s s i b l e t o s p e c ia l fa s h io n lin e s fo r to d d le rs a n d e le m e n ta ry s c h o o l c h ild re n v d io p u rc h a s e G a c y s illu s tra tio n s o f C h ris t, E lv is, a s k u ll w ith b lo o d -d rip p in g m i g h t a b s o r b s t r a y b u l l e t s f i* o m h o m e b o y d e a l e r s i n p u m p s a n d t e n d o l l a r te e th c a lle d " J e f f r e y D a h m e r S k u ll," A d o lf H itle r, a n d th e s m ilin g s e v e n g o ld to o th c a p s a n d ^ \fio c a r r y c u s to m iz e d A K 4 7 a s s a u lt rifle s . D w a rfs re n d e re d in b r i ^ t c o lo rs . A s p e c ia l ite m in th e c o lle c tio n a n d a H ie g u n s a r e n o t f a s h io n a c c e s s o r ie s — y e t. B u t g a s m a s k s a r e . A f te r th e w a r c o n s is te n t b e s t s e lle r is G a c y s p a in tin g o f P o g o th e c lo w n . ( G a c y e n tic e d in Ira q , N e w Y o rk c e le b rity fa s h io n d e s ig n e r A n d re V a n P ie r a n n o u n c e d m a n y o f h is v ic tim s to h is h o m e s u s in g P o g o th e C lo w n r o u tin e s .) G a c y a n e w s p rin g fa s h io n lin e b a s e d o n th e th e m e o f " D e s e rt S to rm " Its c a n b e c o n s id e r e d a " s ta r" o f p r o m o tio n a l, p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e f o r th e F a sh io n a c c e ss o rie s c o n s id e r a b le s u c c e s s h e e n jo y e d in s tr a n g lin g a ll b u t o n e o f h is v ic tim s in c lu d e d n e o n -c o lo re d c a m o u fla g e p a tte rn , c a n te e n p u rs e s, a n d g a s m a s k s b y w r a p p in g a r o p e a r o u n d th e ir n e c k s a n d tw is tin g it w ith a s tic k p r io r , s lu n g r e n e g a d e - c h ic o v e r th e s h o u ld e r . d u r in g , o r s h o r tly a f te r h a v in g s e x w ith th e m s ta te d in te n t w a s to c a p tu r e th e " G u lf W a r lo o k ." A b o u t th e s a m e tim e , a m a jo r N e w Y o rk m a n u fa c tu re r o f b a s e b a ll c a rd s re v e a le d a n e w lin e o f G u lf T h e re is a y e a rn in g in p re d a to ry c u ltu re fo r a d a ily a p o c a ly p s e w h e re W a r c a rd s th a t a r e s iq ip o s e d to b e " e d u c a tio n a l." I n c lu d e d w e re p h o to s o f s a lv a tio n is u n n e c e s s a r y b e c a u s e c h a o s is a lw a y s s u b lim e , m o r a lity is th e m a jo r A m e ric a n m ilita ry h a rd w a re a n d p o rtra its o f th e g e n e ra ls b u t f r ic tio n le s s a n d h e a v e n c a n a lw a y s b e h a d , M T V -s ty le , b e tw e e n a p a ir o f th e o n ly ite m re p re s e n te d fro m b u b b le s h a p e d b u tto c k s . I r a q in th e c o lle c tio n w a s a " s c u d " I f y o u 'r e i n d o u b t , j u s t w i t n e s s m u s i c v i d e o 's r e v e r e n tia l d is p la y o f h o ly b u n s , th e h a r d , g lis te n in g , g h e tto o n io n s o n r a p m is sile . In th e w in te r o f 1 9 9 3 , ju s t a s A tto rn e y G e n e ra l D a n L u n g re n w a s to v id e o s th a t m a k e g r o w n m e n g r o a n f o r b a b e s w h o g o t " b a c k ." B u tto c k s a rriv e a t a L o n g B e a c h , C a lifo rn ia h ig h s c h o o l to s p e a k a b o u t th e d a n g e rs h a v e b e c o m e th e n e w ic o n s o f s o c ia l re s u rre c tio n , th e c u ltu ra l p ro m is e o f g u n s , a te e n a g e r is s h o t in fro n t o f a L o n g B e a c h h ig h s c h o o l v d iile th a t w ill s e lf le s s ly d e f y g r a v ity f o r u s — ju s t to k e e p u s f e e lin g y o u n g a n d try in g to re g is te r. T o d a y 's s o c i a l u g l i n e s s t h a t m a k e s t h e b i z a r r e a p p e a r n o r m a l i s n o s a tisfie d . H a ir s ty lis ts a r e a ls o g iv in g th e s o c ia l o r d e r n e w h o p e f o r re d e n q D tio n . lo n g e r ju s t a ( w h ite , m a le ) s u r r e a lis t f a n ta s y o r p r o to - s u r r e a lis t s p in - o f f , J o s e E b e r , f a m o u s f o r h is te a l- c o lo r e d e y e s a n d b e a u ty s a lo n in B e v e r ly o r a B a u d rilla rd e a n re h e a rsa l fo r a fu tu re le s s fu tu re . T h is s c e n a rio is th e Ifrlls , a n d w h o s p e c ia liz e s in tric h o lo g y (th e s tu d y o f h a ir a n d s c a lp ), p r e s e n t h is to r ic a l m o m e n t, o n e th a t h a s a r r iv e d in a b o d y b a g — u n r a v e le d fa c ia ls u s in g a ro m a th e ra p y , B a la y a g e h a ir p a in tin g , a n d m a n ic u re a n d a n s to m p e d o n b y th e lo g ic o f a s te e l-to e d b o o t. p e d ic u r e , h a s f o u n d a s o lu tio n to th e v io le n c e in L o s A n g e le s : S e ria l k ille r T e d B u n d y h a s d o n a te d h is m u ltip le te x ts o f id e n tity to o u r s tr u c tu r a l u n c o n s c io u s in th e a g e o f re c o m b in a n t s h e lte rs . J u s t p rio r to G a c y s e x e c u tio n , ju s t a b o u t a n y p re d a to r c o u ld b e T h e re is n o e s c a p e . A fu n k y n ih ilis m h a s s e t in ; a n a ro m a e n ^ x ) w e r e d b y p h o n in g 1 - 9 0 0 -6 2 2 - G A C Y , to lis te n to a r e c o r d in g o f a n d w e a re liv in g th e m s u b je c tiv ity . h e g iv e s " e m p o w e rin g m a k e o v e rs " to b a tte re d w o m e n w h o liv e in in n e r c ity o f c u ltu ra l d is q u ie t. W e a re n o w M a rc L e p in e a n d th e R u s s ia n c a n n ib a l m a s s m u r d e r e r , A n d re C h ik a tilo , liv e c o m f o r ta b ly in th e in te r s tic e s o f o u r G a c y s v o ic e . T h e y c o u ld le t th e ir fa n ta s ie s o f h a v in g s e x w ith a s e ria l k ille r fly lo o s e a n d e a s y in th e p riv a c y o f th e ir b e d ro o m s. It c o s t a m e re 168 P e te r M c L a r e n S e ria l K ille r P e d a g o g y 169 $ 1 .9 9 p e r m i n u t e a n d w a s m o r e f u n t h a n b e i n g p a m p e r e d b y a h a i r s t y l i s t s u b c u ltu re s — e v e n a fa m o u s o n e. The u n s e ttlin g c o n tra d ic tio n s of our age a re r e f le c te d in th e tra n s n a tio n a l a s s a u lt o n " d iffe re n c e "— th a t fo rm o f d iffe re n c e th a t e lu d e s th e p r o f it m o tiv e o r r e f u s e s c o m m o d if ic a tio n o r r e v is io n in th e in te r e s ts o f th e lo g ic o f c a p ita l. F e e lin g s o f d e s p a ir a b o u t th e g lo b a l c o n d itio n h a v e g o n e h i^ - te c h : w e c a n n o w e r o tic iz e o u r d e p r e s s io n a n d r e a r r a n g e a n d r e te r r ito r ia liz e o u r f e e lin g s b y e n tr a in in g o u r c e n tr a l n e r v o u s s y s te m w ith th e e le c tro m a g n e tic s p e c tru m v ia TV w aves and f e n d i n g o ff I n L o s A n g e le s, A u re lia M a c ia s , a M e x ic a n im m ig ra n t a n d b a tte re d w ife , s n ip p e d o f f h e r h u s b a n d s te s tic le s w ith a p a ir o f s c is s o rs a s , s h e c la im e d , h e w a s a b o u t to ra p e h e r. A c c o rd in g to n e w s p a p e r re p o rts , th e m a le p ro s e c u tin g a tto rn e y to ld h e r s h e c o u ld h a v e e a s ily e s c a p e d h e r a b u s iv e h u s b a n d b y le a v in g h im a n d w o r k in g " a s a c le a n in g la d y ." I t w a s th e s a m e a tto rn e y w h o re p o rte d ly s n a p p e d a t a fe m a le p s y c h o lo g ist Y o u r e a w o m a n . Y o u k n o w a b o u t j e a l o u s y ." M s . A u re lia w a s a c q u itte d o f th e m o s t s e rio u s c h a rg e s . H o lly w o o d m ig h t fo c u s in g on d ru g s and v io le n c e , a p o t h e o s i z e d i n m o v i e s l i k e ^ C lo c k w o rk O ra n g e a n d C o lo rs. C o r p o r a t e lis te n e rs th e illu s io n o f re s ista n c e b u t n o t a la n g u a g e o f c ritiq u e o r h o p e . It w o rk s to p ro d u c e a p o litic s o f p le a s u re b u t s im u lta n e o u sly fu n c tio n s a s a fo rm o f re p re s s io n a n d fo rg e ttin g — a m o tiv a te d s o c ia l a m n e s ia a n d f o r c e d d i s a v o w a l o f t h e n a t i o n 's c o n ^ l i c i t o u s n e s s i n r a c i a l d e m o n i z a t i o n a n d c o lo n ia lis m N a rc iss is tic e n tre p re n e u rs o f h y p e a n d id e o lo g y , C a m ille b e s ts e lle r lis ts. S t e m , a n d R u s h L i m b a u ^ a r e a l l o n t h e n a t i o n 's C h ild r e n a r e c o lle c tin g tr a d in g c a r d s o f s e r ia l k ille r s . U n iv e r s ity s tu d e n ts r e a d M e x ic a n d e f o r m ity c o m ic s d u r in g lu n c h b r e a k s a l o n g v A fh A m e r ic a n P sy ch o a n d Z e n G iv es Y o u th e C o m p e titiv e E d g e . A fra id o f fa llin g p re y to th e W in p F a c to r, fra te rn ity s tu d e n ts p la n d a te r a p e s a f t e r s p e n d i n g a f e w i n s p i r a t i o n a l h o u r s w i t h P h y sic a l In te rro g a tio n T e c h n iq u e s, a C I A - a u t h o r e d t o r t u r e m a n u a l . C h a r l e s M a n s o n s m i l e s f r o m h is p ris o n c e ll v d iile a n a tio n m o u rn s fo r P o lly K la a s , a y o u n g g irl s to le n fro m h e r b e d ro o m d u rin g a s lu m b e r p a rty b y a s tra n g e r, th e n m u rd e re d . T h e d r a m a s u r r o u n d i n g O . J . S i n ^ s o n 's a r r a i g n m e n t o n c h a r g e s o f w o rk th is in to a n e p is o d e o f L A L aw . A n e ig h th -g ra d e r a t M a iy M c L e o d B e th u n e M d d le S c h o o l, A s tria n n a J o h n s o n , is r e p o r te d ly s u in g th e L o s A n g e le s U n if ie d S c h o o l D is tr ic t f o r p r e v e n tin g h e r f r o m w e a r in g p a c k a g e d c o n d o m s o n h e r c lo th e s a n d s h o e s to p ro m o te s a fe s e x a n d A ID S a w a re n e s s a m o n g h e r fe llo w s tu d e n ts . L .A c a n b e a c ru e l p la c e fo r th o s e w h o w a n t to m a k e a w a re n e s s le g a l. W e n o w liv e in a n a g e w fre re w e c a n m a k e o u r o w n d re a m s c o m e tru e . n ih ilis m r o c k 's c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e s u b v e r s i o n o f a d u l t a u t h o r i t y g i v e s i t s y o u t h f u l P a g lia , H o w a rd d e p re ss io n w ith d e s ig n e r M I Y m o o d s . s e rv in g a s a w itn e s s . o f s a rd o n ic In In g le w o o d , C a lifo rn ia , a w o m a n re c e n tly tu rn e d fo rty a n d m u r d e r in g h is e x - w if e a n d h e r f iie n d h a s g iv e n h im a n o th e r s ta r r in g r o le in p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e , th is tim e a n e v e n m o r e th r illin g r o le in th e p u b lic i m a g i n a t i o n 's g l e e f u l o b s e s s i o n w i t h t h e g l a m o u r o f a c e l e b r i t y h e r o g o n e b a d . E v e ry b o d y lo v e s a h a n d so m e a n d m id d le -a g e d fo o tb a ll h e ro tu rn e d re n t-a -c a r s p o k e s p e rs o n w lio c h a rg e s th r o u ^ a irp o rts lik e h is o ld ru n n in g b a c k s e lf a n d h e lp s A m e ric a n s fin d th e c a r th a t th e y n e e d in a h u n y . O . J . h e lp e d u s d re a m th a t m a y b e w e c o u ld m a rry a b e a u ty c o n te s ta n t o n e She d a y . A n d h a v e n 't w e a l l w i s h e d a t o n e t i m e t h a t w e c o u l d e x c h a n g e o u r h a d a th re e -tie re d w e d d in g c a k e a t th e c e re m o n y , a n d w a s p ro b a b ly r e n t - a - c a r f o r t h e j u n k e r t h a t 's p a r k e d i n o u r o i l - s t a i n e d g a r a g e ? I f s h a r d b e c a u s e s h e h a d n o t y e t fo u n d a m a n to m a rry , s h e m a rrie d h e rs e lf. u n a w a re o f th e im p lic a tio n s h e r a c tio n s h a d fo r L a c a n ia n fe m in ists . A ls o n o t to re m a in a fa n , e v e n if y o u b e lie v e it w a s h is p o w e rfu l h a n d th a t w a s in C a lif o r n ia , th e S u p r e m e C o u r t u p h e ld th e r ig h t o f a d e a d m a n to le a v e re s p o n s ib le fo r th e m u ltip le s ta b w o u n d s th a t rip p e d a p a rt th e fle s h o f h is h is s p e rm to w h o m e v e r h e d e s ire s . v i c t i m s , i n c l u d i n g t h e g a s h i n h i s e x - w i f e 's n e c k t h a t w a s s o d e e p i t e ? q x )se d h e r s p in a l c o lu m n . Next on Gerddoi Serial Killer Cboldiig Tips T h e M e n e n d e z b ro th e rs a re n o t fo o tb a ll s ta rs b u t th e y , to o , c a n b e s t a r s o f p r e d a t o r y c u l t u r e b e c a u s e t h e y 'r e c u t e m u r d e r e r s w f r o w e a r c r e w T h e e r o s i o n o f t h e A m e r i c a n d r e a m h a s f o r c e d t o d a y 's y o u t h t o o c c u p y , i f n o t a d y s t o p i a n p a r o d y o f T h e C o sb y S h o w ^ t h e n p a r a c r i m i n a l n e c k s w e a te rs . Y o u n g w o m e n h a v e e v e n fo rg iv e n o n e o f th e m fo r w e a rin g a to u p e e b e c a u s e E n c a n d L y le k n o w h o w to d is p la y a n g u is h a n d g rie f fo r th e c a m e ra a n d y o u c a n fe e l s o rry fo r th e m . In p re d a to ry 170 P e te r M c L a r e n S e r ia l K ille r P e d a g o g y c u ltu re , y o u a n d y o u r b ro th e r c a n e m p ty d o z e n s o f s h o tg u n s h e lls in to th e b o d ie s of your tw itc h in g and b le e d in g p a re n ts and th e n ta k e a w e ll-d e s e rv e d b re a k ; y o u c a n e v e n u s e y o u r d e a d p a re n ts ' m o n e y to b u y y o u rs e lf a R o le x w a tc h a n d h ire a p e rs o n a l te n n is c o a c h . b u y y o u rs e lf a re sta u ra n t. 171 o n e h u n d re d a n d s ix ty w o rld -w id e s e ria l k ille rs o v e r th e la s t tw e n ty y e a rs w e re fo u n d in th e U n ite d S ta te s (T o u fe x is , 1 9 9 4 ). B a u d rilla rd is r i ^ t . A m e r i c a i s t h e " o n ly re m a in in g p r im itiv e so c iety " ( 1 9 8 8 , p . 7 ) . Y ou can even In o rd e r to g e t a h u n g ju ry a n d n o t b e Handguns Are Rm, but Uzis Are Quicker c o n v ic te d (a t le a s t th e firs t tim e a ro u n d ) a ll th a t y o u h a v e to d o is c o n v in c e a t le a st h a lf o f th e ju r y th a t y o u w e re s a v a g e ly b u tt-ja c k e d b y y o u r f a th e r . T h a t s h o u l d n 't b e t o o d i f f i c u l t b e c a u s e i n p r e d a t o r y c u l t u r e , s u c h h o rro rs a re c o m m o n p la c e . I k e e p te llin g m y f r ie n d s in o th e r c o u n tr ie s to v is it m e in L o s A n g e le s. I t 's a f u n p l a c e t o b e a n d y o u m i ^ t b e a b l e t o s u r v i v e a I f h a lf th e ju iy c a n p ro je c t th a t th e y a re " d r iv e -b y " o r a n a tta c k b y a d is e n c h a n te d e x -e rrq ^ lo y e e w ith a n M I G y o u r f a t h e r , m o t h e r , g i r l f i i e n d , o r e v e n b o y f r i e n d , t h e n y o u 'v e g o t i t a s s a u l t r i f l e o u t o n a r a n p a g e , a n d l i v e t o t e l l p e o p l e . T h a t 's a n o t h e r w a y m ade. to a ttra c t fu n p e o p le in p re d a to ry c u ltu re w h o w ill w a n t to b e y o u r fiie n d . I n p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e th e r e a r e e n d le s s p o s s ib ilitie s f o r c le a n - c u t m u rd e rers. I n p r e d a to r y c u ltu r e w e n e e d n o t w o r ry to o m u c h . T h e c u r r e n t c u ltu r e o f th e U n ite d S ta te s m a k e s it f u n to b e a s in q ^ le , r u n - o f- th e -m ill p r e d a to r y k ille r a n d e v e n m o r e f u n i f y o u h a p p e n to c o - c o i ^ t r u c t y o u r s u b j e c t i v i t y a s a n o v e r - a c h i e v e r m u r d e r e r . I t 's t h e m o s t fu n th in g o f a ll, o f c o u rs e , to b e a s e ria l k ille r. Y o u m i ^ t e v e n in s p ire O u r p o litic ia n s c a n c o n s o le a n d r e a s s u r e u s b y p lu g g in g u s in to th e m y th m a c h in e : te le v is io n . The N ew R ig h t h a s used th e m e d ia e f fe c tiv e ly (a n d e ffe c tiv e ly ) n o t s im p ly to tra n s fo rm g a n g s te rs o r a c to rs in to p o litic ia n s th r o u ^ th e s e rv ic e s o f h ig h -te c h im a g e c o n s u lta n ts , b u t e v e n m o re a m o v ie a b o u t a h o u s e w ife s e ria l k ille r s ta rrin g a fa m o u s H o lly w o o d in p r e s s iv e ly , to s e d u c e U S . c itiz e n s in to c u ltu r a l n o s ta lg ia a n d s o c ia l m o v i e a c t r e s s . I n f a c t , y o u d o n 't h a v e t o b e v e r y s u c c e s s f u l i n n o r m a t i v e a m n e sia a s a w a y o u t o f th e p o s tm o d e rn a m b ia n c e o f re tre a t a n d te rm s to b e a c e le b rity m u rd e re r. Y o u d o n 't h a v e t o b e m u c h m o r e t h a n d e s p o n d e n c y . N o w th a t th e c o ld w a r is o v e r, m a n y s tu d e n ts fe e l a h u n g e r ju s t a p la in h u m a n b u tc h e r w h o lik e s to re g u la rly a tte n d c h u rc h , n o t le t fo r a n e w en em y . th e w a te r b ill g o u n p a id a n d re lig io u s ly c o n s u m e h u m a n lim b s a n d W a r a s it w /a s id e o lo g ic a lly p r o d u c e d t h r o u ^ C N N . o rg a n s. th e N e w R i ^ t h a s , th ro u g h p e rn ic io u s fo re ig n a n d d o m e s tic p o lic ie s , Y o u d o n 't e v e n h a v e t o c o o k t h e l i m b s a t a l l l e t a l o n e p r e p a r e th e m fro m a re c ip e fo u n d in a c e le b rity c o o k b o o k A lre a d y th e re e x is ts a n o s ta lg ia fo r th e P e rs ia n G u lf A t th e s a m e tim e s h a p e d b y th e h e rita g e o f im p e ria lism , h e lp e d th e U n ite d S ta te s fle x its J e f f r e y D a h m e r T - s h i r t s a r e b i g s e l l e r s a t h e a v y m e t a l c o n c e r t s b u t i t 's g lo b a l m u s c le s in G r e n a d a , P a n a m a , S o m a lia , a n d I r a q , s e ttin g th e s ta g e s a fe to c o n c lu d e h e m u s t h a v e h a d s o m e a d m ire rs w h o lis te n to c la s sic a l fo r a re n e w e d p a trio tic z e a l a n d c o n s tru c tio n o f th e p o s tm o d e rn n a tio n a l s u b je c t. D o u ^ a s K e lln e r n o te s th a t, u n d e r th e c o n tr o l o f m u ltin a tio n a l m u s ic . B u t th e y w o u ld n e v e r b e s e e n in a D a h m e r T -s h irt. I n fa c t, y o u d o n 't h a v e t o a t t e n d a m u s i c a l c o n c e r t o f a n y k i n d t o t h r i l l a t h i s e ^ l o i t s o f d is m e m b e rin g s e v e n te e n d e lic io u s y o u n g m e n . T h e re is a c o m ic b o o k a v a ila b le th a t y o u c a n e n jo y p r iv a te ly a lth o u g h y o u w ill p r o b a b ly n o t w a n t to le t y o u r frie n d s k n o w y o u h a v e o n e . P r e d a to r y c u ltu r e m a k e s it p o s s ib le to b e a H e n r y L e e L u c a s o r a n ig h t s ta lk e r R a m i r e z , b e t t e r k n o w n a s C a l i f o r n i a 's w h o k ille d th irte e n p e o p le , h a s a d e v o te d fo llo w in g o f w o m e n w h o w r ite h im r e g u la r ly . B u t D a h m e r is p r o b a b ly m o r e p o p u la r b e c a u s e , a fte r a ll, h e w a s a c a n n ib a l. g o v e rn m e n t d is in fo rm a tio n a n d h a v e h e lp e d to fo rg e a c o n s e rv a tiv e id e o lo g ic a l h e g e m o n y . K e lln e r w rite s : A d o rin g fa n s th e n o w d e c e a s e d s h o w e re d D a h m e r w ith o v e r tw e lv e th o u s a n d d o lla rs. ^ c h a r d R a m ire z a n d b e a d o re d . c a p ita l, th e m e d ia h a v e e ffe c tiv e ly s e rv e d a s id e o lo g ic a l m o u th p ie c e s fo r S e v e n ty -fiv e o f th e a p p ro x im a te ly It is a historical irony that the 1980s marked the defeat of democracy by capitalism in the United States and the triunph of democracy over state communism in the Soviet bloc countries. At presait, the "free" television media in the United States are probably no more adversarial and no less prqjagandistic than Prcu^da or the television stations in the Eastern European countries. Hence the very future of democracy is at stake—and developnent of a democratic communications system is necessary if democracy is to be realized 172 P e te r M c L a r e n S e r ia l K ille r P e d a g o g y (1990:219). 173 to p re v e n t m o re " m is ta k e s " lik e h e r fro m h a p p e n in g . P re d ic ta b ly , th e K u K lu x K la n s u p p o rte d H u n p h rie s o n th e g ro u n d s th a t H u m p h rie s w a s L a r g e ly b e c a u s e o f th e w a y in v M ch m e d ia f u n c tio n s to s h a p e a n d m e rc h a n d ise m o ra lity a n d to c o n s tru c t c e rta in fo rm s o f c itiz e n s h ip a n d in d iv id u a l a n d c o lle c tiv e id e n titie s , o u r u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e m e a n in g a n d im p o r ta n c e o f d e m o c r a c y h a s b e c o m e im p o v e r is h e d in p r o p o r tio n to its d is s o lu tio n a n d r e tr e a t f r o m c o n te m p o r a r y s o c ia l lif e . In th is tim e o f d e m o c r a t i c d e c l i n e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a te s , i d e a l s a n d i m a g e s h a v e b e c o m e d e ta c h e d fro m s ta b le a n d a g re e d -u p o n m e a n in g s a n d a s s o c ia tio n s a n d a re n o w b e g in n in g to a s s u m e a re a lity o f th e ir o w n . T h e w o rld o f th e m e d ia is o n e th a t s p lin te rs , o b lite ra te s , p e rip h e ra liz e s , p a rtitio n s a n d s e g m e n ts s o c ia l space, tim e k n o w le d g e , and s u b je c tiv ity in o rd e r to u n ify , e n c o m p a s s , e n tr a p , to ta liz e a n d h o m o g e n iz e th e m . W h a t is m is s in g f r o m th e e d u c a tio n a l d e b a te is a d is c u ss io n o f th e w a y in v d iic h c a p ita lis m is a b le to a c h ie v e th is c u ltu ra l and id e o lo g ic a l to ta liz a tio n and h o m o g e n iz a tio n , a n d th r o u g h it, th e a b ility to in s in u a te its e lf in to s o c ia l p r a c tic e s a n d p r iv a te p e r c e p tio n s ( s e e (T ro s s b e rg , 1 9 8 8 ). C a p ita lis m c a n b e fu n fo r s tu d e n ts , e s p e c ia lly if y o u h a p p e n to liv e in M e m p h is , T e n n e s s e e . M e m p h is C ity S c h o o l D is tric t n o w h a s W e a p o n W a tc h in its 1 0 4 ,0 0 0 - p u p il d is tr ic t a n d a lr e a d y m o r e th a n s e v e n ty s tu d e n ts h a v e b e e n a rre s te d . S tu d e n ts a re g iv e n re w a rd s o f fifty d o lla rs if th e y tu rn in fe llo w c la s s m a te s w h o b rin g g u n s to s c h o o l. W h a f s fu n a b o u t it is th a t a W e a p o n W a tc h re p re se n ta tiv e a rra n g e s to m e e t s e c re tly w ith a n d p a y o f f in fo rm a n ts . A n o n y m o u s tip s te rs a re g iv e n c o d e n u m b e rs to p ro te c t th e ir id e n titie s . A lre a d y a n e le v e n -y e a r-o ld w a s c a u g h t w ith a s a w e d -o ff rifle a n d d o z e n s o f g u n s h a v e b e e n c o n fis c a te d in c lu d in g a .9 m m s e m i-a u to m a tic p is to l, a .3 8 0 A P C s e m i-a u to m a tic p is to l a n d a .3 8 - c a lib e r r e v o lv e r ( N a ta li, 1 9 9 4 ). G u n s c a n b e fu n b u t its m o re fu n to tu rn in th o s e w h o b rin g th e m to s c h o o l. c u ltu re te a c h e s . A t l e a s t t h a t ’s w h a t p r e d a t o r y A n d i n t h e e n d t h e s c h o o l d o e s n 't h a v e t o i n v e s t i n e ? q )e n siv e m e ta l d e te c to rs lik e s o m a n y o th e r s c h o o ls . I t 's l e s s f u n t o b e i n W e d o w e e , A l a b a m a f o r h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s . T h a t 's b e c a u s e h i g h s c h o o l p r i n c i p a l , H o l o n d H u m p h r i e s , t h r e a t e n e d t o c a n c e l th e s c h o o l p r o m r a th e r th a n a llo w " m ix e d " c o u p le s to a tte n d . T h is d i d n 't j i v e w e l l w i t h R e v o n d a B o w e m , a s t u d e n t w h o h a s a v s h i t e f a t h e r a n d b la c k m o th e r. H u m p h rie s re p o rte d ly s a id th a t h is e d ic t w a s d e s ig n e d s u p p o r tin g B ib lic a l e d ic ts ( H a r r is o n , 1 9 9 4 ). T o d a y ’s i n c r e a s i n g l y " d i s o r g a n i z e d " c a p i t a l i s m h a s p r o d u c e d a g a u d y s id e s h o w th a t h a s m a n a g e d to p ro m o te a c o u n te rfe it d e m o c ra c y o f fla g s a n d e m b le m s— o n e th a t h a s m a n a g e d to h a rn e s s th e a ffe c tiv e c u rre n c y o f p o p u l a r c u l t u r e s u c h t h a t t h e a v e r a g e A m e r i c a n 's i n v e s t m e n t i n b e i n g " A m e ric a n " h a s re a c h e d a n u n p a ra lle le d h i ^ th e lik e s o f v d iic h h a s n o t b e e n s e e n s in c e th e y e a rs o f th e M c C a rth y h e a rin g s. T h e q u e s tio n th a t n e e d s t o b e a s k e d i s : H o w a r e t h e s u b j e c t i v i t i e s ( e ^ q ^ e r ie n c e s ) a n d id e n titie s o f in d iv id u a ls a n d th e p ro d u c tio n o f m e d ia k n o w le d g e s w ith in p o p u la r c u ltu re m u tu a lly a rtic u la te d ? W h a t i s n 't b e i n g t a l k e d a b o u t i n t o d a y 's e d u c a t i o n a l d e b a t e i s t h e d e s p e r a te n e e d w ith in o u r s c h o o ls f o r c r e a tin g a m e d ia lite r a te c itiz e n r y th a t c a n d is r u p t, c o n te s t, a n d tr a n s f o r m m e d ia a p p a r a tu s e s s o th a t th e y n o lo n g e r h a v e th e p o w e r to in f a n tiliz e th e p o p u la tio n a n d c o n tin u e to c r e a te p a s s iv e , fe a rfu l, p a ra n o id , a n d a p o litic a l s o c ia l s u b je c ts. G e o rg e G e rb n e r (1 9 8 9 /9 0 ) a n d o th e rs h a v e p o in te d o u t th a t A m e r ic a n te le v is io n v ie w e rs a re a c c e p tin g a d is to rte d p ic tu re o f th e re a l w o rld " m o re re a d ily th a n re a lity its e lf" T e le v is io n re a lity is o n e in w h ic h m e n o u tn u m b e r w o m e n th r e e to o n e , w h e r e w o m e n a r e u s u a lly m o th e r s o r lo v e rs , ra re ly w o rk o u ts id e th e h o m e , a n d a re n a tu ra l v ic tim s o f v io le n c e . It is a re a lity w h e re le s s th a n te n p e r c e n t o f th e p o p u la tio n h o ld b lu e c o lla r jo b s , w h e re fe w e ld e rly p e o p le e x is t, w h e re y o u n g B la c k s le a rn to a c c e p t th e ir m in o r ity s ta tu s a s in e v ita b le a n d a r e tr a in e d to a n tic ip a te th e ir o w n v i c t i m i z a t i o n ( t h e y a r e u s u a l l y p o r t r a y e d a s t h e w h i t e h e r o 's c o m i c s id e k ic k o r e ls e d ru g a d d ic ts , g a n g m e m b e rs, a n d k ille rs ). It is a w o rld i n w h i c h e i ^ t e e n a c t s o f v i o l e n c e a n h o u r o c c u r i n c h i l d r e n 's p r i m e t i m e p ro g ra m s . V io le n c e in te le v is io n d e m o n stra te s th e s o c ia l p o w e r o f a d u lt w h ite m a le s w h o a re m o s t lik e ly to g e t in v o lv e d w ith v io le n c e b u t a ls o m o s t lik e ly to g e t a w a y w ith it. It a ls o s e rv e s a s a m a s s s p e c ta c le re fle c tin g th e a llo c a tiv e p o w e r o f th e s ta te . A n d th is is o c c u rrin g in a c o u n try th a t in 1 9 9 0 re p o rte d th e la rg e s t n u m b e r o f ra p e s a g a in s t w o m e n in its h is to r y a n d a p r is o n in c a r c e ra tio n r a te o f B la c k s th a t e x c e e d s th a t o f S o u th i ^ c a . A c o u n try w h e re th e re a re m o re g u n s to re s th a t g a s s ta tio n s; w h e re ric h A n g e le n o s a re h irin g p riv a te p o lic e ; w h e re th e 174 P e te r M c L a r e n 175 S e r ia l K ille r P e d a g o g y w e a lth y n e ig h b o rh o o d s d is p la y s ig n s w a rn in g A rm ed R esponse! a n d within and experience oui*selves in terms of particular ideological meanings and \\h e r e s e c u n ty s y s te m s a n d th e m ilita riz a tio n o f u rb a n life a re re fig u rin g values; simply that these are increasingly unrelated to our affective moods, that s o c i a l s p a c e a l o n g t h e l i n e s o f t h e p o s t m o d e r n f i l m B la d e R u n n e r. they cannot speak to them (1988b: 180). The v e in s o f L a tin A m e ric a o p e n e d b y C IA m o b s te rs a n d g e n e ra tio n s o f f o r e i^ p o lic y b u re a u c ra ts in s ta rc h e d s h irts a re b le e d in g n o rth w a rd s , p u n p m g th e T h ird W o rld in to th e h e a rt o f L o s A n g e le s . W e a re fa c in g a c n s is o f p re d a to iy c u ltu re fo rg e d th r o u ^ th e u n h o ly s y m b io sis o f I d o n o t w is h to e n te r in to a n e x te n d e d d is c u s sio n o f p o s tm o d e m ity h e re , e x c e p t to n o te th a t th e re a re b o th u to p ia n a n d d y s to p ia n c u rre n ts to th e p o s tm o d e r n c o n d itio n a n d p o s t- s tru c tu r a lis t th e o r iz in g . B u t w h a t is c a p ita lis m a n d te c h n o lo g y ( te c h n o c a p ita lis m ) , a c r is is th a t h a s p r o fo u n d ly im p o r ta n t to r e c o g n iz e in th is o n g o in g d e b a te is th a t p o s tm o d e m ity h a s g lo b a l in p lic a tio n s . W e h a v e b e e n w a rn e d b y th e c y b e rp u n k g e n e ra tio n , b r o u g h t w ith it n o t o n ly n e w f o r m s o f c o lle c tiv e s e lf -r e fle x iv ity b u t a ls o b u t o u r e y e s a n d e a rs n o lo n g e r b e lo n g to u s . n e w fo rm s o f id e o lo g ic a l c o lo n iz a tio n . H yssen, G itlin , and F re d ric C ritic s a s d iv e rs e a s A n d re a s Jam eson have p o in te d o u t th a t p o s tm o d e rn is m h a s a s p e c if ic a lly , th o u g h n o t e x c lu s iv e ly , A m e ric a n Making Sense of the Senseless: Meaning and Postmodemify s tra in . H o w d o e s o n e m a k e s e n s e w h e re th e re is n o s e n se ? Todd T h e d e b a te C o rn e l W e s t (S te p h a n s o n , 1 9 8 8 :2 7 6 ) re fe rs to th is a s " a fo rm o f A m e r ic a n iz a tio n o f th e g lo b e ." T h e ris e o f p o s tm o d e rn is m h a s b e e n The m a te ria lly tie d to th e ris e o f A m e ric a n c a p ita l o n a g lo b a l s c a le , d a te d to c o n v e rs a tio n s u rro u n d in g p o s tm o d e m ity is n o t g a th e rin g m o m e n tu m th e la te 1 9 5 0 s a n d e a rly 1 9 6 0 s , a n e ra o f in te r in ^ r ia lis t riv a lry a n d s o le ly in lite r a tu r e , b u t a ls o in s o c ia l th e o iy , c u ltu r a l s tu d ie s , e d u c a tio n , m u l t i n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n . J a m e s o n h a s a r g u e d t h a t t h e p e r s i s t e n c e o f I a n c ien s u rro u n d in g p o s tm o d e m ity is in p a rt a re s p o n s e to th is q u e s tio n . A c e n tr a l th e s is o f p o s tm o d e r n is m is th a t m e a n in g is re g im e i n E u r o p e p r e c l u d e d t h e s a m e k i n d o f d e v e l o p m e n t t h e r e , b u t i n in c re ^ in g ly b e c o m in g s e v e re d fro m re p re s e n ta tio a P e te r B u rg e r p u ts it th e U n ite d S ta te s a w h o le n e w s y s te m o f c u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n e m e rg e d a n d th u s : " [ I] n o u r s o c ie ty th e s ig n n o lo n g e r r e f e r s to a s ig n if ie d b u t a lw a y s a n e w , s p e c if ic a lly A m e ric a n c u ltu r a l a p p a r a tu s o r " c u ltu ra l d o m in a n t" o iJ y to o th e r s ig n s , s o th a t w e n o lo n g e r e n c o u n te r a n y th in g lik e m e a n in g b e g a n to s e rv e a s a fo rm o f id e o lo g ic a l h e g e m o n y , fo rc in g T h ird W o rld w ith o u t s p e e c h , c o u n tr ie s in to th e u n te n a b le p o s itio n s o f p la y in g " c a tc h u p " ( S te p h a n s o n , a n d l e ^ s tu d ie s. b u t o n ly m o v e in an e n d le s s c h a in o f s ig n ifie rs " ( 1 9 8 9 :1 2 4 ) . I n o th e r w o r d s , th e u n ity o f th e s ig n a n d its a b ility to a n c h o r m e a n in g h a s b e e n s ig n if ic a n tly w e a k e n e d . T h e a v e ra g e in d iv id u a l la c k s 1 9 8 8 :8 ). I d o n o t c o n c e iv e o f p o s tm o d e m ity a s a " to ta l h is to ric a l m p tu re a la n g u a g e fo r m a k in g s e n s e o f e v e iy d a y life . c o n s titu te s B u rg e r w rite s th a t: th e id e o lo g ic a l r e p r e s e n ta tio n of la te c a p ita lis m , th a t th e c o m m o d if ic a tio n o f o u r d e c e n te r e d s u b je c tiv itie s , th e in p lo s io n o f th e The modem culture industry robs individuals of "languages" for interpreting self d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n th e ^d world by denying them the media for organizing their own experiences. m e ta - n a r r a tiv e , The consciousness mdustiy does represent a public sphere of production, but one that takes consciousness as "raw material" or that constantly tries to sever a p p ro p ria te in th e c o n te ir^ x ira ry c o n te x t, c u ltu ra l p ra c tic e s in to o u r o w n between concrete experiences and consciousness (1984:xxviii-xxvix). liv e s . but im a g e ra th e r as a n d th e re a l, o r th e a s e n s ib ility lo g ic c o lla p s e by o f a ll w h ic h we T h a t is , I w is h to c a ll a tte n tio n to p o s tm o d e m ity a s a p ro c e s s s ig n ific a n tly le s s to ta liz in g , a s " d e te rm in in g m o m e n ts in c u ltu re a n d e v e ry d a y life " (G ro s s b e rg 1 9 8 8 b :3 9 ). L a w re n c e G ro s s b e rg e c h o e s th is th e m e w h e n h e w rite s th a t: or P o s tm o d e m ity in th is v ie w re fe rs to th e " g ro w in g d is ta n c e , a n d e ^ q ia n d in g s e rie s o f m p tu re s o r g a p s , b e tw e e n th e s e v a r io u s a s p e c ts o f e v e r y d a y lif e , b e tw e e n th e a v a ila b le Contorqjorary ideological stmctures seem incapable of making sense of certain affective experiences.... But this does not mean that we do not continue to live m e a n in g s , v a lu e s a n d o b je c ts o f d e s ir e w h ic h s o c ia lly o r g a n iz e o u r e x is te n c e a n d id e n tity , a n d th e p )o s s ib ilitie s f o r in v e s tin g in o r c a r in g P e te r M c L a r e n 176 a b o u t th e m 111 S e r ia l K ille r P e c h g o g y v s ^ c h a re e n a b le d b y o u r m o o d s a n d e m o tio n s " (3 9 ). g e n e r a l id e o lo g ic a l c o m m itm e n ts . C r itic a l p e d a g o g y b e c o m e s , f o r m a n y G ro s s b e rg is re fe rrin g h e re to a fe e lin g o r s e n s ib ility th a t life n o lo n g e r s tu d e n ts , h a s a n y fu n d a m e n ta l p u rp o s e to v d iic h w e c a n p a s s io n a te ly c o m m it. H e r e lu c ta n t o r r e f u s e to q u e s tio n m e a n in g s , p r e fe r r in g in s te a d to liv e th e m . r e m a r k s th a t o u r " m a tte r in g m a p s n o lo n g e r c o r re s p o n d to a n y a v a ila b le m a p s o f m e a n in g " (4 0 ). a n d fe e lin g : a n u n c o m fo rta b le and s e lf-c o n te s tin g e x e rc ise . T h e y a re It is n o t th e p u rp o s e o f c ritic a l p e d a g o g y to a b s o rb s tu d e n t a p a th y P o s tm o d e m ity is , in s h o rt, a c ris is o f m e a n in g a b o u t p o litic s a n d s o c ia l c h a n g e in to tr a d itio n a l p o litic a l c a te g o r ie s a n d " a d i s s o l u t i o n o f v d i a t w e m i g h t c a l l t h e 'a n c h o r i n g a f f e c t ' e n d up b y o ffe rin g y e t a n o th e r " b la m in g th e v ic tim " a n a ly sis o f th e th a t a rtic u la te s m e a n in g a n d a ffe c t" (p . 4 0 ). O n e o f th e d a n g e rs o f p o s tm o d e r n c u ltu r e is th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f w h a t G r o s s b e r g c a lls a i d e o l o g i c a l f o r m a t i o n o f t o d a y 's y o u t h . R a th e r, I w a n t to a c k n o w le d g e th a t th e re a re h is to ric a l c o n d itio n s w h ic h a c c o u n t fo r y o u th re s is ta n c e a n d " d is c ip lin e d m o b iliz a tio n " b y v d iic h h e m e a n s " th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f a a p a th y . fro n tie r a s a n u n b rid g e a b le g a p b e tw e e n th e liv a b le a n d th e u n liv a b le , th e in to its p u b lic a n d p riv a te liv e s in c o m p le x w a y s a n d w e n e e d to b e p o s s ib le a n d im p o s s ib le , th e re a l a n d th e u n re a l" (3 7 ). F o r in s ta n c e , G ro s s b e rg n o te s th a t " y o u th in s e rts c u ltu ra l te x ts A d is c ip lin e d a w a r e o f t h e c o m p l e x i t y a n d c o n t r a d i c t o r y n a t u r e o f y o u t h 's s o c i a l a n d m o b iliz a tio n re fe rs to th e te m p o ra l a n d s p a tia l a rtic u la tio n o f te x ts p o litic a l p o s itio n s" (1 9 8 8 a : 1 3 9 ). G ro s s b e rg rig h tly re c o g n iz e s th a t in o u r th r o u g h s o c ia l p r a c tic e s w h ic h g iv e u s b o th s ta b ility a n d m o b ility w ith in p o s tm o d e rn e v e ry d a y life . s u b je c tif ic a tio n ( b o r e d o m ) a n d c o m m o d if ic a tio n ( te r r o r ) . I t " d e f in e s th e v e r y p o s s ib ilitie s o f w h e r e a n d h o w w e e ra , young p e o p le e x is t w ith in th e space b e tw e e n O u r m e d ia m o v e a n d s to p , o f w h e re a n d h o w w e p la c e a n d d is p la c e o u rs e lv e s , o r c u ltu r e h a s b e c o m e a " b u f f e r z o n e ," a " p a r a d o x ic a l s ite " a t w h ic h th e w h e re a n d h o w w e a re in s ta lle d in to c u ltu ra l te x ts a n d e x te n d e b e y o n d y o u th o f to d a y liv e o u t a d if f ic u lt i f n o t in p o s s ib le r e la tio n to th e f u tu r e . th e m (3 6 -7 ). S u c h a " ty p o g ra p h y o f c u ltu ra l p ra c tic e s" d e fin e s th e s ite s I n fa c t, G ro s s b e rg a rg u e s th a t A m e ric a n y o u th h a v e la rg e ly b e e n fo rm e d w ith in c u ltu re w e c a n o c c u p y , th e in v e stm e n ts w e c a n m a k e in th e m , a n d o u t o f th e m e d ia s tra te g ie s o f th e " a u to n o m o u s a ffe c t" in w h ic h p o litic s , th e p la c e s a lo n g w h ic h w e c a n c o n n e c t a n d tra n s fo rm th e m . v a lu e s , a n d m e a n in g h a v e b e e n re d u c e d to in d iv id u a liz e d im a g e s o f G ro ssb e rg is e s p e c ia lly c o n c e r n e d h e r e w ith th e in c r e a s in g a b ility o f th e N e w R ig h t m o ra lity , s e lf-sa c rific e , a n d c o m m u n ity . to d e v e lo p id e o lo g ic a l a n d a f f e c tiv e a llia n c e s a m o n g s o c ia l g ro u p s . T h a t id e n titie s o f m e d ia im a g e s in w h ic h th e p o litic s o f in te rp re tiv e i n s i s t is is , lo o k in g a t th e p o s tm o d e rn fro n tie r a s a s ite o f s tru g g le a m o n g r e p la c e d b y th e p o litic s o f " f e e lin g g o o d ." d is c o u r s e , m a te r ia l p r a c tic e s , a n d r e p r e s e n ta tio n , it c a n b e a r g u e d th a t th e T h e y a re liv in g th e s u rfa c e G ro s s b e rg p o in ts to o n e c u ltu ra l s tru g g le in w h ic h th e N e w R i ^ t h a s N e w R ig h t h a s b e e n a b le to re a rtic u la te , re c o n s tru c t, a n d re te rrito ria liz e ta k e n th e th e " n a tio n a l p o p u la r" (th e fa m ily , n a tio n a lis m , c o n s u m e rism , y o u th , s e v e n tie s , in p a r t t h o u ^ t its a b ility to r e c o n s tr u c t th e h is to r y o f th e w a r p le a s u re , in V ie tn a m h e ro es, e tc .) id e o lo g ic a lly e m p ty . a g a in st its e lf as a ffe c tiv e ly c h a rg e d but O n e e x a m p le o f th is is th e a b ility o f N e w C la s s n e o -c o n s e rv a tiv e s to m a n ip u la te tra d itio n a l p o p u lis m (P ic o n e 1 9 8 7 -8 8 :2 1 ). le ^ : th e a tta c k o n th e c o u n te rc u ltu re o f th e s ix tie s a n d A b rie f tre a tm e n t o f s u c h a re c o n s tru c tio n w ill h e lp to illu s tr a te h is p o in t. V ie tn a m w a s a w a r f o u ^ t b y y o u th a n d b e c a m e " th e s y m b o l o f th e m o m e n t w h e n th e id e n tific a tio n o f th e p o s tw a r y o u th g e n e r a tio n s w ith Youtti and Postmodern Apathy: Qitical Pedagogy, Boredom and Tenor A m e r ic a f e ll a p a r t a n d c o n s e q u e n tly , th e m o m e n t w h e n A m e r ic a lo s t, n o t o n ly its c e n te r b u t its fa ith in a c e n te r" (G ro s s b e rg , 1 9 8 8 b :5 6 ). Y et p o p u la r n a r r a tiv e s in th e m e d ia n o w a tte n p t " to p la c e th e w a r b a c k in to E v e n in th is p o s tm o d e r n e r a , th e id e o lo g ic a l h e g e m o n y in th e U n ite d th e f a m ilia r f r a m e w o r k s o f tr a d itio n a l w a r n a r r a tiv e s o f p e r s o n a l d r a m a " S ta te s , w h ile ir r e d e e m a b ly c o n d e m n a b le a n d u n d e n ia b ly p o w e rf u l, is n o t (5 7 ). w ith o u t its c o n tra d ic to iy m o m e n ts . ig n o re d in p o p u la r re p re s e n ta tio n s o f th e w a r. S tu d e n ts o fte n s e e th e c ritic a l e d u c a t o r 's c o n c e r n f o r c o m m u n i t y a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e a s a t h r e a t t o t h e i r T h e e x is te n c e o f th e c o u n te r-c u ltu re a t th a t tim e is g e n e ra lly R a th e r, th e w a r is i n t e r p r e t e d a s a n a t t a c k o n A m e r i c a a n d i t s s a c r e d v a l u e s — ^ 't h e m o m e n t v '^ e n t h e p o s t w a r y o u t h g e n e r a t i o n s l o s t t h e i r f a i t h , n o t o n l y i n A m e r i c a , b u t in th e p o s s ib ility o f e v e r f in d in g a c e n te r , a n id e n tity , in w h ic h it c o u ld in v e s t" ( 5 8 ) . 179 S e r ia l K ille r P e d a g o g y P e te r M c L a r e n 178 T h e e f f e c t o f ig n o r in g th e c o u n te r -c u ltu r e is to d is p la c e " th e id e o lo g ic a l c o n te n t fro m y o u th c u ltu re a n d [tra n s fo rm ] it in to p u r e ly a f f e c tiv e r e la tio n s " (5 9 )— o r " a f f e c tiv e n o s ta lg ia ." T h a t th e r e e x is t f e w g r o u n d s p r e s e n tly a v a ila b le to s tu d e n ts u p o n w h ic h to im a g in e c o n s tru c tin g a n o p p o s itio n a l o r c o u n te r-h e g e m o n ic p e d a g o g ic a l s ta n c e in a c u ltu r a l c e n te r w ith n o r e a l id e o lo g ic a l c o n te n t— o n ly f e e lin g s — m a k e s th e c h a lle n g e o f c ritic a l p e d a g o g y a ll th e m o re a c u te a n d a ll th e m o re m e a n in g . F o r in s ta n c e , th e d e s ire a m o n g c o n s e rv a tiv e s a n d d ie -h a rd " p a tr io ts " to m a k e f la g b u r n in g a c r im e ( w h e th e r b y c o n s titu tio n a l a m e n d m e n t o r c iv il b la sp h e m y s ta tu te ) a s a re a c tio n a g a in s t th e re c e n t U n ite d S ta te s S u p r e m e C o u r t r u lin g , is a n e x c e lle n t e x a n q ^ le o f a f f e c tiv e c o m m i t m e n t i n w h i c h p a t r i o t i s m i s c o n s t r u e d , i n G r o s s b e r g 's t e r m s , a s a n " e m p ty c e n te r" d e v o id o f th e k in d o f id e o lo g ic a l e n g a g e m e n t th a t m a k e s it in q x )s s ib le to u n d e rm in e a n y d e fin itio n o f w h a t A m e ric a n m e a n s o th e r lh a n a b s o lu te c o m m itm e n t to A m e ric a its e lf. In re la tio n to w h a t is h a p p e n in g o n th e ^ p o p u la r fro n t, c ritic a l p e d a g o g y m u s t b e c o m e a s tra te g ic a n d e n p o w e rin g re s p o n s e to th o s e p re s sin g . A s id e fro m y o u t h 's s u b je c tiv e fo rm a tio n th o u ^ th e " a ffe c tiv e a llia n c e s" o f m a s s m e d ia , p a rt o f th e p ro b le m w ith th e re fu s a l o f y o u th to e n g a g e in is s u e s o f c la s s o p p re ss io n a n d s o c ia l in ju s tic e b o th in s id e a n d o u ts id e th e c la ss ro o m h a s to d o w ith th e fa c t th a t in th e U n tie d S ta te s , d o m in a tio n a n d o p p re s s io n a re n o t a s o v e rt a s in m a n y T h ird W o r ld c o u n trie s . N o r th A m e ric a n c iv il s o c ie ty is le s s s im p ly s tr u c tu r e d b y d iv is io n s b a s e d o n th e c o n flic t o f la b o r a n d c a p ita l. C o n se q u e n tly , c la s s r e la tio n s d o n o t a p p e a r to c a u s e s o c ia l in e q u a lity a n d c o n s e q u e n tly th e re is a g re a te r fo c u s o n o p p re s s iv e in s ta n c e s o f g e n d e r d iv is io n s , a g e d iffe re n c e s, a n d e th n ic c o n flic t. I n o th e r w o r d s , w e d o n o t liv e w ith in h is to r ic a l c o n d itio n s w h ic h h a v e p r o d u c e d u s a s s u b je c ts , a n d to th e w a y s w e a re in s e rte d o n a d a ily b a s is in to th e fro n tie r o f p o p u la r c u ltu re a n d e x is tin g s tru c tu re s o f p o w e r. It is o u r c la im th a t a c la rific a tio n o f s o m e o f th e p ra c tic e s o f c ritic a l p e d a g o g y c a n , a s a fo rm o f in te lle c tu a l la b o r, h a v e tr a n s fo r m a tiv e e f fe c ts , e n a b lin g u s to d e c o n s tru c t a n d m o v e b e y o n d a ffe c tiv e tra n s fo rm in v e stm e n ts th e " to a h ig h e r le v e l o f a b s tra c tio n e n p iric a lly ta k e n - f o r - g r a n te d in to th e in o rd e r to c o n c re te ly d e te rm in e d " (G ro s s b e rg , 1 9 8 8 b ;6 8 ). Oitical Ptedagogy and tbe Analysis of tbe Predatoiy Qilture s tru c tu re s o f te rro r s u c h a s th o s e fo u n d , fo r in s ta n c e , in E l S a lv a d o r o r G u a t e m a l a , w f r e r e w o r k e r s a r e f r e q u e n t l y d i s p a t c h e d b y a c o u p d e g ra c e th ro u g h th e fo re h e a d . F u r th e r m o r e , c o lle c tiv e a c tio n d o e s n o t s e e m a s n e c e s s a r y w ith in a c lim a te o f p o litic a l a n d c u ltu r a l p lu r a lis m , a l t h o u ^ th e p re s e n c e o f th e b la c k u n d e rc la s s a n d th e h o m e le s s is s o m e w fra t c h a n g in g th is s p e c ta to ria l d e ta c h m e n t to w a rd s h u m a n o p p re s s io n . T h e p o in t is th a t c la s s , g e n d e r , a n d r a c ia l o p p r e s s io n d o e x is t, r e g a r d le s s o f th e p e r c e p tio n G r o s s b e r g a d m i t s t h a t g i v e n t h e N e w R i g h t 's i n c u r s i o n i n t o t h e fro n tie r b e tw e e n a ffe c t a n d id e o lo g y , w fre re o n ly o r m a in ly e m o tio n a l re s p o n s e s a re p o s s ib le w ith o u t th e b e n e fit o f id e o lo g ic a l u n d e rs ta n d in g o r c o m m i t m e n t , t h e r e i s l i t t l e r o o m f o r G r a m s c i 's " o p t i m i s m o f t h e w i l l " s o fo r p o litic a l s tru g g le , fo r u n d e rsta n d in g and c o n fro n tin g a f f e c tiv e c o m m itm e n t o u ts id e o f th e s y s te m o f c u ltu r a l p o w e r w ith in w iiic h s u c h a n in v e s tm e n t is c o n s tr u c te d , a n d f o r a s s u m in g a n e c e s s a r y re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n a ffe c tiv e in v e stm e n t fo r s tu d e n ts to re je c t w h a t th e y e ^ r i e n c e a s a g iv e n ; a p e d a g o ^ th a t in c lu d e s a s h a rp e n e d fo c u s o n th e re la tio n s h ip a m o n g e c o n o m ie s o f c a p ita l in v e s tm e n t, p o litic a l e c o n o m ie s , m o r a l e c o n o m ie s , e c o n o m e s o f " fre e " e x p re s s io n , s e x u a l e c o n o m ie s , e c o n o m ie s o f b e lie f a n d id e n tity f o r m a tio n a n d th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f d e s ir e a n d f o r m a tio n o f h u m a n w ill; a pedagogy b y th e p u b lic a t la rg e (B a u m , 1 9 8 7 ). n e c e ssa ry D a r e w e c r e a te a c r itic a l p e d a g o g y lh a t is a b le to p r o v id e c o n d itio n s and e x te rn a l s y s te m s of o f d is c o n te n t a n d o f o u tra g e th a t is a b le to c o n te s t th e h e g e m o n y o f p re v a ilin g d e fin itio n s o f th e e v e ry d a y a s th e " w a y th in g s a re " ; a p e d a g o g y th a t re fu s e s th e h id e b o u n d d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n lo fty e :? q )re s s io n a n d p o p u la r c u ltu r e , b e tw e e n a r t a n d e x p e r ie n c e , b e tw e e n re a s o n a n d th e im a g in a tio n ? W e n e e d a c ritic a l p e d a g o g y in o u r c o lle g e s o f e d u c a tio n th a t c a n p ro b le m a tiz e s c h o o lin g a s a s ite fo r th e c o n s tru c tio n o f m o ra l, c u ltu ra l, a n d n a tio n a l id e n tity , a n d e n p h a s iz e th e c re a tio n o f th e s c h o o le d c itiz e n a s a f o r m o f e n p la c e m e n t, a s a g e o p o litic a l c o n s tr u c tio n , a s a p ro c e s s in th e fo rm a tio n o f th e g e o g ra p h y o f c u ltu ra l d e sire . D a re P e te r M c L a re n 180 S e r ia l K ille r P e d a g o g y 181 w e tr a n s f o r m te a c h in g p r a c tic e s in o u r s c h o o ls in to a c ts o f d is s o n a n c e a n d d iff e re n c e . in te r v e n tio n s in to th e r itu a l in s c r ip tio n o f o u r s tu d e n ts in to th e c o d e s o f c o n tr a d ic tio n s in U .S . s o c ie ty b e tw e e n th e m e a n in g o f f r e e d o m , th e th e d o m in a n t c u ltu r e ; in to s tru c tu re d re fu s a ls to n a tu ra liz e e x istin g re la tio n s o f p o w e r; in to th e c re a tio n o f s u b a lte rn c o u n te rp u b lic s ? It o n ly m a k e s s e n s e th a t a c u rric u lu m s h o u ld h a v e a s its fo c u s o f I t is g ro u n d e d in th e e th ic a l in ^ r a tiv e o f e x a m in in g th e d e m a n d s o f s o c ia l ju s tic e , a n d th e o b lig a tio n s o f c itiz e n s h ip o n th e o n e h a n d , a n d th e s tru c tu re d s ile n c e th a t p e rm e a te s in c id e n ts o f s u ffe rin g in e v e ry d a y life . in v e s tig a tio n th e s tu d y o f e v e ry d a y , in fo rm a l, p o p u la r a n d p re d a to ry T h e p o litic s o f d iffe re n c e th a t u n d e rg ird s s u c h a c ritic a l p e d a g o g y is c u ltu r e a n d h o w th e h is to r ic a l p a tte r n s o f p o w e r th a t in f o r m s u c h c u ltu r e s o n e in w h ic h d iffe re n c e s re a rtic u la te a n d s h a p e id e n tity s u c h th a t s tu d e n ts a re in p r e c a te d in th e fo rm a tio n o f in d iv id u a l s u b je c tiv ity a n d id e n tity . P e d a g o g y o c c u r s n o t o n ly in s c h o o ls b u t in a ll c u ltu i^ s ite s . The c a n a c tiv e ly re fu s e th e ro le o f c u ltu ra l s e rv a n t a n d s e n tin e l fo r th e s ta tu s q u o in o rd e r to re c la im , re s h a p e , a n d tra n s fo rm th e ir o w n h is to ric a l e le c tro n ic m e d ia is p e rh a p s th e g re a te st s ite o f p e d a g o g ic a l p ro d u c tio n d e s tin y . th a t e x is ts — y o u c o u ld s a y it is a fro m o f p e rp e tu a l p e d a g o g y . I n a d d itio n tra n s c e n d e n c e o f lo c a l k n o w le d g e s o r p a rtic u la ris m s . to u n d e rs ta n d in g lite ra c ie s a p p lic a b le to p rin t c u ltu re , s tu d e n ts n e e d to w o ix ls , c o m m itte d to E n li^ te n m e n t e p is te m o lo g y n o r e c o n o m ic lib e r a lis m re c o g n iz e h o w th e ir id e n titie s a re f o r m a l a n d th e ir " m a tte rin g m a p s " b u t ra th e r a n e w s o c ia lis t im a g in a ry g ro u n d e d n o t in s p e c ific fo rm s o f p ro d u c e d th o ro u g h a n e n g a g e m e n t w ith e le c tro n ic a n d o th e r ty p e s o f r a tio n a lity b u t in f o r m s o f d e to ta liz e d a g e n c y a n d th e e x p a n s io n o f th e m e d ia s o th a t th e y w ill b e s p h e re o f ra d ic a l d e m o c ra c y to n e w fo rm s o f s o c ia l life . a b le to engage in a lte rn a tiv e w a y s o f T h e p e d a g o g y is n o t p re m is e d u p o n a c o m m o n c u ltu re , o r a It is n o t, in o th e r It is a m o v e s y m b o liz in g th e s e lf a n d g a in a s ig n if ic a n t p u rc h a s e o n th e c o n s tr u c tio n aw ay o f th e ir o w n id e n titie s a n d th e d ire c tio n o f th e ir d e s irin g . It is in s u c h a n u n iv e r s a lis m " a n d to w a r d a " c ritic a l c o s m o p o lita n is m " ( 1 9 9 1 :2 4 3 ) w h ic h fro m w hat A rn o ld K ru p at c a lls " u n s e lf-c ritic a l h u m a n istic in v e s ti^ tio n th a t te a c h e rs a n d s tu d e n ts b e c o m e tra n s fo rm e d in to c u ltu ra l d o e s n 't a s k p e o p l e t o d i s c a r d t h e e t h n i c a n d l o c a l a t t a c h m e n t s f o r m o r e w o rk e rs fo r s e lf a n d s o c ia l e m a n c ip a tio n . I a m c a llin g fo r a p e d a g o g y o f g lo b a l c o m m itm e n ts but ra th e r in te rro g a te s th e u n iv e rsa l a lre a d y c ritic a l m e d ia lite ra c y th a t is lin k e d to w h a t P a u l W illis (1 9 9 0 ) h a s c o rU cd n e d in th e lo c a l a n d e x a m i n e s h o w t h e e t h n i c a n d t h e r e g i o n a l is re fe rre d to a s a " g ro u n d e d a e s th e tic s " d e s ig n e d to p ro v id e s tu d e n ts w ith a lre a d y p o p u la te d b y o th e r p e rsp e c tiv e s a n d m e a n in g s. th e s y m b o lic re so u rc e s fo r c re a tiv e s e lf- a n d s o c ia l fo rm a tio n in o rd e r th a t h o m e s , w e b e c o m e " h o m e y s " in th is z o n e o f c o n te s t b e tw e e n lo c a l a n d W e m ake our th e y c a n m o r e c r itic a lly r e - e n te r th e v a s t, u n c h a r te d s p a c e s o f c o m m o n g l o b a l, d o m i n a n t a n d s u b o r d i n a n t m e a n i n g s a n d s o c i a l p r a c t i c e s , s e e k i n g c u ltu re . to re a rtic u la te th e m in th e in te re s ts o f g re a te r s o c ia l ju s tic e a n d fre e d o m . I a m f u r th e r s u g g e s tin g th a t s tu d e n ts n e e d to m a k e c r itic a l ju d g m e n ts T h is is n o s m a ll ta s k a t th is m o m e n t in h u m a n h is to r y in w h ic h a b o u t w h a t p re d a to ry c u ltu re m i ^ t m e a n , a n d w h a t is p o s s ib le o r s u b je c tiv ity is b e in g c o n s tru c te d w ith in th e fu tu re a n te rio r; w h e re w e fe e l d e s ira b le o u ts id e e x is tin g c o n fig u ra tio n s o f p o w e r a n d p riv ile g e . S tu d e n ts n o s ta lg ia f o r a tim e th a t h a s n o t y e t a r r iv e d ; w h e r e w e lo n g f o r n e w n e e d to b e a b le to c ro s s o v e r in to d iffe re n t z o n e s o f c u ltu ra l d iv e rs ity a n d f o r m s o f lo n g in g a n d o f b e lo n g in g ; w h e r e s p a c e s o f p o s s ib ility a r e fo rm w h a t T rin h T . M in h -h a (1 9 8 8 ) c a lls h y b rid a n d h y p h e n a te d id e n titie s e } q > a n d in g b u t o u r b e lie f in p o s s ib ility c a n im a g in e its o w n e x tin c tio n a n d in o rd e r to re th in k th e re la tio n s h ip o f s e lf to s o c ie ty , o f s e lf to o th e r, a n d c o n se q u e n tly a n e w h is to ry c a n b e b o m . to d e e p e n th e m o ra l v is io n o f th e s o c ia l o rd e r. T h is ra is e s a n im p o rta n t h is to ry is a n o th e r m a tte r, b u t o n e th a t w e n e e d n o t le a v e e n tire ly to H o w a re th e c a te g o rie s o f ra c e , c la s s , g e n d e r, a n d s e x u a l p r e f e r e n c e s h a p e d w ith in th e m a r g in s a n d c e n te r s o f s o c ie ty , a n d h o w c a n chance. O u r p e d a g o g ic a l h o m e s, o u r " h o o d s " n e e d to b e c o m e c u ltu ra l s p a c e s s tu d e n ts e n g a g e h is to r y a s a w a y o f r e c la im in g p o w e r a n d id e n tity ? T h e w h e re s t^ e n ts a re a b le to fo rm in te rla c e d n e tw o rk s o f in tra c o m m u n a l c r itic a l m e d ia lite r a c y o f w h ic h I s p e a k is s tr u c tu r e d a r o u n d th e n o tio n o f n e g o tia tio n , s p a c e s th a t w o r k to w a r d th e c o n s tm c tio n o f in tim a c ie s a n d a p o litic s o f lo c a tio n a n d id e n tity a s b o rd e r-c ro s s in g — o r p e d a g o g y o f c o a rtic u la te d c o m m u n a l p a tte rn s in c la s sro o m s a n d th e q u e s tio n : H o w w e s h a ll d e c id e to w n te s u rro u n d in g 182 P e te r M c L a r e n c o m m u n itie s a n d th a t ta k e th e p ro je c t o f h u m a n lib e ra tio n a n d s o c ia l ju s tic e s e rio u s ly . P o s tm o d e r n is m ," in P e te r N ic h o la s P u b lis h e r s . G iro u x , H A & M c L a re n , P . 1. P e s s i m i s m , " E x p o su re. G iro u x , H A . & M c L a re n , P . T h e t e r m " p r e d a t o r y c u l t u r e " w a s i n s p i r e d b y r e a d i n g M c k F a i r c n 's " T h e a t e r o f t h e D i s t u r b e d " i n t h e L o s A n g e le s R e a d e r ( D e c e m b e r 3 , 1 9 9 3 , V o l 1 6 , N o . 8 , p p . 8 -1 1 ). M c L a r e n " E d u c a tio n a s a p o litic a l is s u e : c o n v e rs a tio n about e d u c a tio n ? " P e te r W h a f s m is s in g in th e In T h irtee n q u e stio n s: R e fr a m in g E d u c a tio n 's c o n v ersa tio n . E d i t e d b y J o e L . K i n c h e l o e a n d S h ir le y R . S te in b e r g ( 2 4 9 - 2 6 2 ) . M c L are n and R honda P e te r L a n g , 1 9 9 2 ; a ls o fro m P e te r H a m m e r, " C ritic a l pedagogy and th e p o s tm o d e rn c h a lle n g e : T o w a rd a c ritic a l p o s tm o d e rn is t p e d a g o g y o f E d u c a tio n a l F o u n d a tio n s ( 1 9 8 9 , V o l . 3 , N o . 3 , p p . l i b e r a t i o iL " P o litic s ," 2 9 ^ 2 0 ). (h -o ssb erg , L . is a re v is e d M o rto n in tro d u c tio n to C ritic a l P e d a g o g y a n d pp. " L e o n G o l u b ’s R a d i c a l " R a d ic a l P e d a g o g y a s C u ltu ra l and M a s ’u d 1 5 2 -1 8 6 . Z a v a rz ad e h U rb a n a and ( E d s .) , C h ic a g o : (1 9 8 8 a ) " R o c k in ' w ith R e a g a n , o r th e m a in s tre a m in g o f m o d e r n i t y , " C u ltu ra l C ritiq u e , 1 0 : 1 2 3 — 4 9 . G ro ssb e rg , L . (1 9 8 8 b ) " P a tro llin g fro n tie rs : T h e a rtic u la tio n o f th e p o p u l a r , " i n L . G r o s s b e r g ( E d . ) , It's a S in , A u s tr a lia : P o w e r P u b lic a tio n s . H a m m e r, R & M c L are n , P . (1 9 9 1 ) U n iv e rsity o f S y d n e y , " R e th in k in g th e D ia le c tic ," E d u c a tio n a l T h e o ry , 4 1 : 2 3 — 4 6 . H a rris o n , E ric . essay D o n a ld (in p re s s ) Jam es U n iv e rs ity o f Illin o is P re s s. G r o s s b e r g , L . ( 1 9 8 8 ) It's A S in . S y d n e y , A u s t r a l i a : P o w e r P u b l i c a t i o n s . u p r o a r ." T h is in P o stm o d e rn ism , ( E d .) , A lb e rt P a rk , A u s tra lia : (1 9 9 1 ) T h eo ry/P ed a g o g y /P o litic s, T h is e s s a y h a s d ra w n fro m tw o p re v io u sly p u b lis h e d e s s a y s : p u b lic M c L a re n P o stc o lo n ia lism a n d P e d cg o g y . Notes 2. 183 S e r ia l K ille r P e d a g o g y (1 9 9 4 ) " P r in c ip a ls r a c e c o m m e n ts s p u r s m a ll to w n L o s A n g e le s T im e s, M a r c h 1 6 . ( 1 9 8 3 ) T h e M a n a g e d H e a rt, B e r k e l e y : U n i v e r s i t y o f H o c h sc h ild , A R P red a to ry C u ltu re . L o n d o n a n d N e w Y o r k : R o u t l e d g e , 1 9 9 4 . C a lifo rn ia P re s s . J a m e s o n , F . (1 9 8 3 ) " P o s tm o d e r n is m a n d C o n s u m e r S o c ie ty ," in H F o s te r References T o w n se n d : B a y P re ss. K e l l n e r , D . ( 1 9 9 0 ) T e le v isio n a n d th e C risis o f D e m o c ra cy . B a u d rilla rd , J e a n ( 1 9 8 8 ) A m e r ic a B aum , G . C o m p a ssio n a n d S o lid a rity : T h e C h u rc h fo r O th e rs, (1 9 8 7 ) M o n tre a l a n d N e w Y o rk : B u rg e r, P . (1 9 8 4 ) L ondon: V e rso . C B C E n te rp rise s . B u rg e r, P . (1 9 8 9 ) T h e o ry o f th e A v a n t-g a rd ,y ^rv c iO S ip o \is\ U n i v e r s i t y " T h e d is a p p e a ra n c e o f m e a n in g : r e a d in g o f M c h e l T o u m ie r , B o th o A p o s tm o d e rn S tr a u s s , a n d P e te r H a n d k e ," P o ly g ra p h , 2 , 3 : 1 2 4 - 3 9 . G a m e s k i, J . (1 9 9 3 , D e c e m b er) W e stw o o d G e rb n e r, G . H A " In to w n w ith J o se E b e r t." The N ew s, p. 13. (1 9 8 9 /9 0 ) (in (1 9 9 1 ) K ru p a t, A C a lifo rn ia P re s s. M in h - h a ,T rin h T . (1 9 8 8 ) and th e In te rlo c k in g "B o rd er P e d a g o g y and th e of B o u ld e r, T h e N e w C riterio n , 9 : 4 - 1 3 . B e rk e le y , C A : " N o t Y o u /L ik e Y o u : Q u e s tio n s U n iv e rsity o f P o s t C o lo n ia l W o m e n o f Id e n tity and D iffe re n c e . In sc rip tio n s, 3 / 4 : 7 1 — 7 7 . N a ta li, L y n d a . (1 9 9 4 ) " T u rn in g in c la ss m a te s : T o tin g g u n s is p a y in g o f f L o s A n g e le s T im es, M a r c h 2 2 . P ic c o n e ,P . (1 9 8 7 /8 8 ) P o litic s P o rt W e s tv ie w P re s s . " T e n u r e d R a d ic a ls ," ( 1 9 9 1 ) E th n o c ritic ism . in M e m p h is ." " T V v s . R e a l i t y , " A d b u s te r s , 1 : 1 2 . p re ss) S a n F ra n c is c o , O x fo rd : K im b a ll, R o f M in n e s o ta P re ss . G iro u x , T h e A n ti-A e s th e tic E ssa ys in P o stm o d e rn C u ltu re . ( E d .) , 1 7 4 :3 -2 9 . "The crisis o f A m e r i c a n c o n s e r v a t i s m , " T e lo s ,n o . P e te r M c L a r e n 184 R a v itc h , D. (1 9 9 0 ) " M u ltic u ltu r a lis m ," The A m e r ic a n S c h o la r, 5 9 :3 3 7 -3 5 4 . R o s a ld o , R - (1 9 8 9 ) C u ltu re a n d T ru th : T h e R e m a k in g o f S o cia l A n a ly s is. B o s t o n : B e a c o n P r e s s . S a i d , E . ( 1 9 9 3 ) C u ltu re a n d Im p e ria lism . N e w Y o r k : A l f r e d A . K n o p f , In c . S e ars. J. T . (1 9 8 7 ) " P e e rin g in to th e W e ll o f lo n e lin e s s : The R e s p o n s ib ility o f E d u c a to r s to G a y a n d L e s b ia n Y o u th ," in A le x M o l n a r ( E d . ) , S o c ia l Issu e s a n d E d u ca tio n ( p p . 7 9 - 1 0 0 ) . A l e x a n d r i a , V ir g in ia , A s s o c ia tio n f o r S u p e r v is io n a n d C u r r ic u lu m D e v e lo p m e n t. S e lja k , D . (1 9 9 1 ) " A l a n D a v i e s o n R a c i s m , " T h e E c u m e n ist, 2 9 : 1 3 - 1 4 . S te p h a n s o n , A . (1 9 8 8 ) R e g a r d in g P o s tm o d e r n is m — A C o n v e r s a tio n w ith F r e d r ic J a m e s o n , in A n d r e w R o s s ( E d .) , U n iv e r s a l A b a n d o n ? , p p . 3 -3 0 . M in n e a p o lis: S te p h a n s o n , A . (1 9 8 8 ) U n iv e rs ity o f M in n e s o ta P re s s . " I n te r v ie w w ith C o r n e l W e s t," in A n d r e w R o s s (E A ), U n ive rsa l A b a n d o n ? , p ^ .2 6 9 -2 % 6 . M i n n e a p o l i s : U n i v e r s i t y o f M n n e s o ta P re ss. T o u fe x is , A . W illis , P . (1 9 9 4 , A p ril 4 ) (1 9 9 0 ) T im e . p p . 6 4 - 6 6 . C o m m o n C u ltu re , B o u l d e r : W e stv ie w P re s s . P e ter M c L a ren is a n A s s o c ia te P ro fe sso r in th e G ra d u a te S c h o o l o f E d u ca tio n a t U C L A .