War without Bodies: Framing Death from the Crimean to the Iraq War

The media in the US constructs a "war without bodies" in which neither soldiers' corpses nor civilians' bodies are shown, according to Martin Danahay's book War Without Bodies. This book explores how new communications technologies and war have intertwined from the Crimean War to the Gulf region in 1990-91, within a war culture that made the costs of organized violence acceptable to a wider public. It examines the cultural assumptions that influenced the reception of images of war and discusses how death and damage to bodies were made acceptable to the public.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 154 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Historically, the impact of mechanization and derealization of warfare on civilian bodies has been significant, yet this aspect is often overlooked in popular media representations of violence. In his book, "War Without Bodies," author Martin Danahay explores the notion that the media, particularly in the United States, constructs a "war without bodies" in which neither the corpses of soldiers nor civilians are shown. This book delves into the historical relationship between new communications technologies and war, spanning from the Crimean War to the Gulf region conflicts in the 1990s. It examines how these technologies have shaped the perception and representation of war, highlighting the paradoxical effect of new modes of communication on the "realness" of war.

New communications technologies, such as photography and instantaneous video, initially promised to bring greater realism to war reporting. However, they were quickly assimilated into existing conventions that implicitly justified war. These new representations of war sought to erase the human cost of violence by replacing it with images that defused opposition to warfare. Poetry, photographs, video, and video games were used as tools to convey these messages, illustrating the ways in which war was framed in different historical contexts.

Through a comprehensive analysis of these various media, "War Without Bodies" challenges cultural assumptions that influence the reception of images of war. It explores how death and damage to bodies have been made acceptable to the public, often through the manipulation of language and narrative. The book aims to heighten awareness of how acceptance of war is coded into texts and how active resistance to these hidden messages can help prevent future conflicts.

By examining the ways in which the media constructs a "war without bodies," "War Without Bodies" provides a valuable insight into the complex dynamics of war and its impact on society. It challenges us to consider the ethical implications of representing violence and the ways in which media can shape public opinion and political decisions. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of modern warfare and the role of media in shaping our understanding of it.

Weight: 198g
Dimension: 154 x 228 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978819191