University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2011 The Affective Dimensions of Social Controversy Susan Ann Sci University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Communication Commons Recommended Citation Sci, Susan Ann, "The Affective Dimensions of Social Controversy" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 923. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/923 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. THE AFFECTIVE DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL CONTROVERSY __________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Social Sciences University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________ by Susan A. Sci August 2011 Advisor: Darrin K. Hicks, Ph.D. ©Copyright by Susan A. Sci 2011 All Rights Reserved Author: Susan A. Sci Title: THE AFFECTIVE DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL CONTROVERSY Advisor: Darrin K. Hicks, Ph.D. Degree Date: August 2011 ABSTRACT Social controversy is a sustained, mediated debate between at least two oppositional parties which is more than just a difference of opinion; rather it is a persistent conflict over the political and cultural implications that dominant forms of communicative reasoning, practices, and norms have for a public. Simply put, during social controversies the norms guiding public life can be negotiated, reaffirmed, negated, and/or transformed. This can lead to progressive political, cultural, and/or social change in some instances, while establishing or reifying conservative and even oppressive norms, practices, and laws in others. Building upon Olson and Goodnight‘s (1994) theoretical and methodological framework of social controversy, this dissertation argues that scholars should analyze the role affect plays in this type of conflict as a means to address the regulation of public conduct as well as public discourse. The rhetorical and argumentative significance of the affective dimensions of social controversy have been conceptualized and analyzed via an examination of emotion-based claims and affective states that have become salient, discernable and/or apprehendable during specific public disagreements. Such a conceptualization demonstrates that critical insights regarding the norms that guide public conduct, the role risk and vulnerability play in the regulation of individuals‘ public behavior, and the relationship between affect and citizenship can be gained by focusing on a controversy‘s affective dimensions. ii To highlight the importance of the study of affect in social controversy as well as better understand the larger critical significance affect theory has for rhetorical and argumentation studies, this dissertation has analyzed the affective dimensions of three conflicts. They are: the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse social controversy, the International Freedom Center social controversy, and the controversy over the 2004 French ban on conspicuous religious attire in public schools. The findings from this dissertation have specific and general implications for future work in the field of controversy as well as rhetoric and argumentation, respectively. iii Acknowledgements First, warmest thanks to my phenomenal committee! Dr. Darrin Hicks, you are an inspiration to me. Your critical eye, eloquence, and astuteness never cease to amaze me and I appreciate how you have consistently challenged me to be a better scholar. Dr. Christina Foust, your keen insights into the inner-workings of rhetoric and academia has helped guide me through the graduate school and dissertation process. Dr. Kate Willink, your fastidiousness and knowledge of affect helped me attain a deeper level of clarity in my writing and your passion is infectious! Second, David Parrish—thank you for the countless times you listened to a paragraph, spoke with me about ideas, gave me a kiss when I needed it, let it slide when I was having a bad day, and stuck by me for all the highs and lows of this process—I love you always. Third, my family is a force of affection, comfort, joy, and, at times, insanity in my life. Mom and Dad, you are my heart and soul – I dedicate this project to you. Anthony, Sarah, Christine, Jessie, Julia, Terri, Scott, Angelina, Joe, Tina, Eric, ToniAnn, Debbi, Eddie, Veronica, Alicia, Michael, Eve, Matthew, Andrew, and James–thank you for understanding my physical and mental distance as well as your continual support; there are no words to capture my love and gratitude. Mike, your belief in me gave me the courage and confidence to start on this path—you will never know what that means to me and I am forever grateful. Fourth, Kate, Dave, and Alexa—my shadow committee—thank you for guiding me through the dissertation experience with thoughtful advice, encouragement, kindness, and without judgment. Lastly, thanks to all of my friends and colleagues who have supported me through this process, especially Anna, Beth Ann, Ian, Brian, Krissy, Angela, and Johnny. iv Table of Contents Chapter One: Social Controversy, Affect, and the Shame Of Abu Ghraib ........................ 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 Abu Ghraib and Traditional Social Controversy Criticism .................................... 6 The Affective Dimensions of Social Controversy ................................................ 16 Affective State of Pleasure at Pain in Abu Ghraib ................................... 21 Emotion-Based Claims and Sontag‘s Affective Objection Of Shame...... 23 Research Questions ............................................................................................... 27 Preview of Chapters .............................................................................................. 28 Chapter Two.............................................................................................. 28 Chapter Three............................................................................................ 29 Chapter Four ............................................................................................. 31 Chapter Five .............................................................................................. 34 Chapter Two: Social Controversy and its Affective Dimensions ..................................... 36 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 36 Olson and Goodnight‘s Theory of and Methodology Framework for Social Controversy ........................................................................................................... 38 The Theoretical Underpinnings ................................................................ 38 Olson and Goodnight‘s Methodological Framework ............................... 40 It‘s Not as Bad as Beheading .................................................................... 43 The Critical Evolution of Social Controversy ...................................................... 45 Discursivity and Non-Discursivity ........................................................... 45 The Limitations of ―Opposition‖ .............................................................. 48 Incommensurable Discourses ................................................................... 51 The Potential for Change .......................................................................... 55 The Relationship between Affect and Social Controversy ................................... 60 The Movement of Affect .......................................................................... 60 My Orientation to and Galvanization about Abu Ghraib.......................... 64 Towards a Lexicon of Affect for Rhetoric and Argumentation Studies .. 66 The Affective Dimensions of Social Controversy ................................................ 75 Emotion-Based Claims ............................................................................. 76 Rush Limbaugh‘s Emotion-Based Claim of Levity.................................. 79 Affective States ........................................................................................ 82 DeLuca‘ Theory of Body Rhetoric and Affective States .......................... 89 Joseph Previtera‘s Body Rhetoric and the Affective State of Shame ....... 91 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 94 Chapter Three: The International Freedom Center Social Controversy and Take Back the Memorial‘s Emotion-Based Claim of Reverence ............................................................. 96 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 96 Conditions of the Controversy: The Site and the Plan ........................................ 101 The LMDC‘s Plan for the IFC ................................................................ 103 v Objections to the IFC .......................................................................................... 106 Foreshadowing the TBM ........................................................................ 106 The TBM‘s Emotion-Based Claims of Reverence ............................................. 108