The Act of Killing, Crime & Mass Killing

PS140O: Projecting Power

Prof Wasow

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

Discussion: Where else have we seen a subject miscategorized with psychological issues?

Let’s hear from: Tennley, Alisa, Ariana, Liz

Discussion: Why not try to perfect humanity?

Let’s hear from: Brynn, Tucker, Andrew, Shah Bano

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

Discussion: How does Tilly help us understand The Act of Killing?

Let’s hear from: Deisy, Yuning, Ying, Amy

Questions?

Harff & Gurr 1988

Tilly