Suicide Social Dramas: Life-Giving Moral Breakdowns in the Israeli Public Sphere

This book explores how suicide is treated in the Israeli public sphere through an ethnohistorical lens, suggesting that public glossing practices atone for and bring about the symbolic rectification of the socially detrimental effects of suicide. It draws on Durkheim's thought on the social significance of suicide and the sacred cohesive power of societies self-representations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the emotional treatment of selected suicide media events through an ethnohistorical lens, offering a neo-Durkheimian account of suicide. It addresses the social-moral threat posed by suicide and the subsequent need to gloss over its unsettling incomprehensibility. By analyzing the social dramas, cultural performances, and suicide talk aired in the Israeli public sphere, the author suggests that these public glossing practices serve as a means of atoning for and rectifying the socially detrimental effects of suicide. Drawing on Durkheim's understanding of the social significance of suicide and the sacred cohesive power of societies self-representations through rituals and commemorations, the author revamps the contemporary relevance of these cultural devices. They demonstrate how suicide talk functions as a revival mechanism of communal life-giving, reconstituting and redressing the disrupted order. This approach will appeal to scholars and students of sociology, anthropology, social theory, Israel studies, suicide studies, and the interpretation of societal and cultural processes.

Introduction:
Suicide is a complex and deeply emotional phenomenon that has captivated the attention of societies throughout history. While its causes and motivations are often debated, suicide remains a significant social-moral threat that requires careful examination. In recent years, the media has played a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and attitudes towards suicide, often through the portrayal of emotionally-laden suicide media events. This book seeks to explore the ethnohistorical chronicling of these events, offering a neo-Durkheimian account of suicide that addresses its social-moral threat and the ensuing need to gloss over its unsettling incomprehensibility.

Social Dramas:
The analysis of the social dramas, cultural performances, and suicide talk aired in the Israeli public sphere reveals a complex web of social, cultural, and moral factors that contribute to the treatment of suicide. These events often evoke strong emotions and provoke intense debates, reflecting the societal tensions and conflicts surrounding suicide. The media plays a significant role in shaping public discourse on suicide, as it provides a platform for individuals and communities to express their views and experiences. However, the portrayal of suicide in the media can be misleading and sensationalized, leading to misunderstandings and misinformation.

Cultural Performances:
Cultural performances, such as plays, movies, and television shows, also contribute to the treatment of suicide in the Israeli public sphere. These works often depict suicide as a tragic and heroic act, reflecting the cultural values and beliefs of the society. However, such portrayals can also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about suicide, leading to further stigmatization and discrimination.

Suicide Talk:
Suicide talk, or the discourse surrounding suicide, is another important aspect of the treatment of suicide in the Israeli public sphere. This discourse includes discussions about suicide prevention, coping strategies, and the experiences of individuals who have attempted suicide. Suicide talk can be a powerful tool for raising awareness and promoting empathy, but it can also be fraught with misinformation and emotional manipulation.

Neo-Durkheimian Account:
Drawing on Durkheim's thought on the social significance of suicide and the sacred cohesive power of societies self-representations through rituals and commemorations, the author revamps the contemporary pertinence of these cultural devices. They argue that such public glossing practices atone for and bring about the symbolic rectification of the socially detrimental effects of suicide. By examining how society deals with the shattering of normative we-feelings caused by suicide, the author suggests that suicide talk constitutes a revival mechanism of communal 'life giving.'

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Suicide Social Dramas: Moral Breakdowns in the Israeli Public Sphere offers a nuanced and insightful analysis of the emotional treatment of selected suicide media events. Through an ethnohistorical lens, the book explores the social, cultural, and moral factors that contribute to the treatment of suicide in the Israeli public sphere. It demonstrates how public glossing practices serve as a means of atoning for and rectifying the socially detrimental effects of suicide, while also highlighting the potential risks and limitations of such practices. This approach will appeal to scholars and students of sociology, anthropology, social theory, Israel studies, suicide studies, and the interpretation of societal and cultural processes with interests in social theory, Israel studies, suicide studies, and the interpretation of societal and cultural processes.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367568719