Description
Book SynopsisAn examination of humanitarianism in Western society. Argues that humanitarianism has become a staple part of modern media and celebrity culture.
Trade Review“In all the frenzy of celebrity humanitarianism, where famous idols call attention to the world’s suffering (and to themselves), Keith Tester’s trenchant book provides the critical eye necessary to understand how Western culture exploits humanitarian crisis. In the field of human rights today, there is a disturbing trend toward making human rights another cause célèbre, packaged for the consumption of the world’s fortunate consumers. How has the commercialization and consumerization of human rights affected the course of global emancipation from suffering? Tester’s book provides some unsettling but crucial answers.”
—Thomas Cushman,Wellesley College
“Humanitarianism and Modern Culture is a timely and fascinating book that cuts across reportage of pop literary references to illuminate our understanding of the role of popular culture in shaping humanitarian discourse.”
—Ruti Teitel,Ernst C. Stiefel Professor of Comparative Law, New York Law School
“Tester charmingly revives the spirit of Roland Barthes’ Mythologies (1957) in a few wonderful, deconstructive readings of Bob Geldof’s photographs of Africa, which illustrate his claim that Western humanitarianism rests on a number of mythic images and aestheticizing notions of cultural difference, for example the "gorgeous Ethiopian."”
—Matthew Specter Human Rights Review
Table of ContentsContents
Preface and Acknowledgments
1. Out of “Africa”
2. Saving Birhan
3. Madonna and Child
Conclusion
References
Index
