FAQResearchAll Academic Inc.
Citation
A Taste in Virtue: Reading Rousseau's (Misanthropic) Critique of Bourgeois Liberalism in the Film 'Hannibal'
Abstract | Word Stems | Keywords | Association | Citation | Get this Document | Similar Titles
You can now view the document associated with this citation by clicking on the "View Document as HTML" link below. View Document as HTML: Click here to view the document
Abstract:
We argue that the film Hannibal is at its core a story about the lure of misanthropy, and the struggle of idealism (in the sense of love for and pursuit of the 'best' in humanity, which we consider here as faith in humankind's capacity for goodness) against this lure. Accordingly, it provides a useful foil for considering the lure of misanthropy in political thought: in particular, the tensions and agreements between idealism and misanthropy in the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In considering the above, we examine Rousseau's critique of bourgeois liberal society as a misanthropic critique that is both rooted in and set against Enlightenment idealism, and argue that this critique, and Rousseau's general attitude toward what he considers vice, reflects a broader, but nonetheless unique, misanthropic attitude. We then argue that Hannibal Lector, the title character of the 2001 film 'Hannibal, is a skeptical, or corrupted, misanthrope - that is, one whose hatred of viciousness has very nearly become a hatred of humankind generally - and that he therefore brings to life some of the core elements of Rousseau's misanthropy/misanthropic critique. We argue further that Clarice Starling can also be understood to be misanthropic and so too embodies some core principles of Rousseau's critique. We argue that in this case, however, the misanthropy lies at an opposite extreme from that of Lecter's: Starling's misanthropy is an idealistic misanthropy. Finally, we argue that the subtextual emotional struggle between the skeptically misanthropic Hannibal and the idealistic Clarice Starling reflects some important connections and tensions between idealism and misanthropy, and so allows us to consider the relation between idealism and misanthropy in the thought of Rousseau. In viewing Rousseau's misanthropic critique of bourgeois liberalism through the lens of the film Hannibal, we argue that Rousseauan misanthropy can be seen as a sort of continuum along which the important tensions of this critique - idealism versus skepticism, actual versus apparent virtue, natural goodness versus social goodness - play.
Most Common Document Word Stems: misanthrop (103), starl (89), rousseau (85), virtu (85), misanthropi (78), vice (77), lecter (74), lector (61), vicious (56), hannib (54), man (52), film (47), howev (44), societi (42), seem (41), ideal (40), bourgeoi (38), becom (37), would (37), idealist (35), skeptic (33),

Author's Keywords: Keywords: Rousseau, Liberalism, Hannibal, Connors, Lenard	Convention All Academic Convention is the premier solution for your association's abstract management solutions needs. Submission - Custom fields, multiple submission types, tracks, audio visual, multiple upload formats, automatic conversion to pdf. Review - Peer Review, Bulk reviewer assignment, bulk emails, ranking, z-score statistics, and multiple worksheets! Reports - Many standard and custom reports generated while you wait. Print programs with participant indexes, event grids, and more! Scheduling - Flexible and convenient grid scheduling within rooms and buildings. Conflict checking and advanced filtering. Communication - Bulk email tools to help your administrators send reminders and responses. Use form letters, a message center, and much more! Management - Search tools, duplicate people management, editing tools, submission transfers, many tools to manage a variety of conference management headaches! Click here for more information.
Association: Name: American Political Science Association URL: http://www.apsanet.org
Citation: URL: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p66329_index.html Direct Link: HTML Code:

Connors, Catherine. and Lenard, Patti. "A Taste in Virtue: Reading Rousseau's (Misanthropic) Critique of Bourgeois Liberalism in the Film 'Hannibal'" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston Marriott Copley Place, Sheraton Boston & Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts, Aug 28, 2002 Online <.PDF>. 2008-09-07 <http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p66329_index.html>

Connors, C. and Lenard, P. T. (2002, Aug) "A Taste in Virtue: Reading Rousseau's (Misanthropic) Critique of Bourgeois Liberalism in the Film 'Hannibal'" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston Marriott Copley Place, Sheraton Boston & Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts Online <.PDF> Retrieved 2008-09-07 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p66329_index.html

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript Review Method: Peer Reviewed Abstract: We argue that the film Hannibal is at its core a story about the lure of misanthropy, and the struggle of idealism (in the sense of love for and pursuit of the 'best' in humanity, which we consider here as faith in humankind's capacity for goodness) against this lure. Accordingly, it provides a useful foil for considering the lure of misanthropy in political thought: in particular, the tensions and agreements between idealism and misanthropy in the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In considering the above, we examine Rousseau's critique of bourgeois liberal society as a misanthropic critique that is both rooted in and set against Enlightenment idealism, and argue that this critique, and Rousseau's general attitude toward what he considers vice, reflects a broader, but nonetheless unique, misanthropic attitude. We then argue that Hannibal Lector, the title character of the 2001 film 'Hannibal, is a skeptical, or corrupted, misanthrope - that is, one whose hatred of viciousness has very nearly become a hatred of humankind generally - and that he therefore brings to life some of the core elements of Rousseau's misanthropy/misanthropic critique. We argue further that Clarice Starling can also be understood to be misanthropic and so too embodies some core principles of Rousseau's critique. We argue that in this case, however, the misanthropy lies at an opposite extreme from that of Lecter's: Starling's misanthropy is an idealistic misanthropy. Finally, we argue that the subtextual emotional struggle between the skeptically misanthropic Hannibal and the idealistic Clarice Starling reflects some important connections and tensions between idealism and misanthropy, and so allows us to consider the relation between idealism and misanthropy in the thought of Rousseau. In viewing Rousseau's misanthropic critique of bourgeois liberalism through the lens of the film Hannibal, we argue that Rousseauan misanthropy can be seen as a sort of continuum along which the important tensions of this critique - idealism versus skepticism, actual versus apparent virtue, natural goodness versus social goodness - play.

Sex in the Bourgeois City: Tocqueville and Rousseau on the Role of Women in Modern Society

Norms-Driven Coercion: When Liberal Virtues Become Vices