Explanation and Exoneration — Framing Violence, Media Censorship, and Political Narratives | Chapter 1 of Precarious Life by Judith Butler
Explanation and Exoneration — Framing Violence, Media Censorship, and Political Narratives | Chapter 1 of Precarious Life by Judith Butler In the wake of September 11, 2001, public discourse in the United States underwent a seismic shift. In Chapter 1 of Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence , Judith Butler offers a powerful critique of this shift—examining how political binaries, media complicity, and intellectual suppression came to dominate the national conversation. This chapter, titled "Explanation and Exoneration," serves as a foundational entry into Butler's larger ethical and philosophical inquiry into violence, grief, and justice. Watch our full video summary of this chapter from Last Minute Lecture below: The Crisis of Critical Thought Post-9/11 Butler begins by interrogating the American political landscape following 9/11, where dissent and critique were increasingly labeled as unpatriotic. The phrase “either you’re with us or you’re ...