The Act of Killing, Crime & Mass Killing
PS140O: Projecting Power
2025-03-04
Housekeeping
No “short response papers”
Four comments on bcourses
Short and personal better than long and AI (but long is welcome!)
Revisiting: About Films
- Some films will contain material that is frustrating, offensive and/or disturbing
- Film and media in this course contain sex, violence, racial and sexual stereotypes, and language, themes, and imagery that may be challenging
- You are expected to watch the films in full but it is also acceptable to close your eyes, cover your ears, walk out, etc. if you find specific scenes especially challenging
- Exceptions to watching films may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis after discussion with the professor
Revisiting: About Films
Please prepare yourself to engage provocative and unfamiliar subject matter as a part of our screenings, readings, and discussions
We are confident that you will find the effort rewarding within the context of the course and in the process of growing as a sensitive, open- minded, historically conscious, analytical thinker, writer, and film-viewer
How to think about difficult material?
Please note, some films will contain material that is offensive and/or disturbing. You are encouraged to watch the films in full but it is also acceptable to close your eyes, cover your ears, walk out, etc. if you find material especially challenging. Exceptions to watching films in person either due to scheduling conflicts or content of the film may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis after discussion with the professor.
A “Battle Cry”?
How do people justify mass killing?
Eugenics
Discussion: What are possible downsides to “belief in scientific improvement,” “collectivism” or “using state power to fight poverty”?
Let’s hear from: Kierstyn, Patrick, Pintack, Praceda
17:00
Discussion: Where else have we seen a subject miscategorized with psychological issues?
Let’s hear from: Tennley, Alisa, Ariana, Liz
19:31
25:13
Discussion: Why not try to perfect humanity?
Let’s hear from: Brynn, Tucker, Andrew, Shah Bano
30:08
Break
Revisiting Tilly
Crime and the State
- “Opium was a cornerstone of European imperialism in Burma, Malaya and French Indochina”
- North Korea, Taliban, Columbia as “narco states”
- Mexico, Honduras, leaders alleged cartel ties
- Russia as mafia state
Crime and Presidents
- Kennedy election alleged to rely partly on mafia
- McCain’s family wealth from father-in-law’s prohibition sales
- Trump’s grandfather alleged to run brothel in Yukon
- Violations of emoluments clause, “a provision of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits federal officeholders from receiving any gift, payment, or other thing of value from a foreign state or its rulers”
The Act of Killing directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
Video Essay: Katie Hale, Victoria Jones, Daniela Chavez, Qing Xu
Questions
Discussion: How does power work in The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Victoria, Sarah, Ashley, Harnoor
Discussion: What is the role of the Pancasila in The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Diego, Yana, Andy, Dillon
Discussion: Why a duopoly of violence?
Let’s hear from: Ramona, Stephanie, Gretchen, Bailey
Discussion: What are the coalitions of power we see The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Jessica, Shasta, Madeleine, Erika
Discussion: How might Tilly help us understand The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Lanah, Fabian, Katie, Qing
Discussion: What role do movies play in The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Danielle, Nadia, Rithika, Tahira
Discussion: What role does media play in The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Nicholas, Lily, Crystal, Luci
Discussion: How should we think about memory in The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Arman, Daniela, Alexander, Michelle
Discussion: What in prior films connects to The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Derya, Aaron, Ava, Amelia
Time code: 00:19:55
Discussion: How does Tilly help us understand The Act of Killing?
Let’s hear from: Deisy, Yuning, Ying, Amy
Questions?
Harff & Gurr 1988
25:00
Tilly
Time code: 00:57:24
- Chapters
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