Conductas extremas, riesgo y tentación de muerte en la sociedad del espectáculo (nuevas formas y usos de la violencia)

Abstract

In postmodern society, it is evident the development of risk behaviours and vandalism acts which, although not always associated with aggressive inten-tions, can be violent. Very often, they are linked to external incentives (speed, alcohol, drugs) –which convert them into ludic violence- and, therefore, may end in anomic acts and trigger indiscriminate violence. What is hidden behind the risk taking, the testing, and the playing with boundaries, either in their tragic or happy-ludic trend? To what degree are they not aimed at -beyond its apparent gratuity- testing the tolerance capacity of the system, reflecting a game of chance that could represent a new way of or-deals? Up to what extent do the broad-cast media today, comply with a mediating function and, through the hyper-visibilization of negative objects, tame violence and exorcise fear, integrating them into a culture of violence with its own aesthetics?