Public Spectacles of Violence

More about the book

Focusing on early twentieth-century Mexico and Brazil, the book explores how cinematic and photographic depictions of violence shaped public perception amid political instability and social inequality. By analyzing various sensational media forms, Rielle Navitski reveals how these spectacles created a shared public sphere that transcended racial and class divides during modernization. The narrative underscores the human costs associated with industrialization, highlighting the enduring impact of this visual culture on contemporary issues of violence in both nations.