Sumario: | "Horrified, saddened, and angered: That was the American people's reaction to the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the Virginia Tech shootings, and the 2008 financial crisis. Timothy Recuber presents a unique and provocative look at how these four very different disasters took a similar path through public consciousness. He explores the myriad ways we engage with and negotiate our feelings about disasters and tragedies--from omnipresent media broadcasts to relief fund efforts and promises to 'Never Forget.' Recuber explains how a specific and 'real' kind of emotional connection to the victims becomes a crucial element in the creation, use, and consumption of mass mediation of disasters. He links this to the concept of 'empathetic hedonism, ' or the desire to understand or feel the suffering of others."--Provided by publisher.
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