Amherst professor Austin Sarat explores the enduring presence and normalization of violence in American culture, using the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence and the recent mass stabbing in Traverse City, Michigan, as entry points to examine broader societal trends. Professor Sarat argues that while violence has long been part of America's foundation, former President Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric and dehumanizing language have dangerously amplified a culture of cruelty and retribution, making it more urgent than ever to resist these influences.
Cornell professor Joseph Margulies examines the systemic culture of brutality, secrecy, and dehumanization within the Marcy Correctional Facility, as exposed by the murder of Robert Brooks by correctional officers and the indifference of bystanders. Professor Margulies argues that such a culture is sustained by unwritten norms—normalization of violence, secrecy, silence, impunity, and dehumanization—which reflect deep failures of leadership, training, and accountability, calling for systemic reform to prevent future atrocities.
