I like how Ahmed takes an approach to emotions that is different from our other readings. While she does talk about the transfer of emotions from body to body, she explains that these transfers are “economic” and don’t reside in the subject or object. When talking about the emotion of hate, Ahmed states “Hate is economic; it circulates between signifiers in relationships of difference and displacement (pg. 119, para.1).” Because emotions are circulated, this means we project them towards others that trigger that particular emotion.
We have all been in a situation where we seem to dislike someone just because they remind us of someone we don’t like. Since emotions are not set in subjects, we displace our emotions for the person we don’t like onto the other individual. But this economy doesn’t just apply to one other person. It can extend to groups. According to Ahmed “The impossibility of reducing hate to a particular body allows hate to circulate in an economic sense, working to differentiate some others from other others, a differentiation that is never “over,” as it awaits for others who have not yet arrived (pg.123 para.1).” I thought this concept was interesting because it sort of ties into Aristotle’s thought about hate.
When comparing anger and hate, Aristotle felt that one difference between the two was you felt angry towards individuals and hate towards groups or classes. Looking at it from Ahmed’s point, one could see why. If the emotion of hate was instilled in the person, you should theoretically just hate that person. But since hate is economic, you would displace the emotion of hate to others who are similar (groups). It seems that Aristotle and Ahmed are on the same page.
I think learning about economics of emotions is valuable. If the emotion we are feeling is not instilled in the subject, we cannot displace it on to them as if it were. Relationship researchers make the note that you are suppose to own up what you are feeling when talking to a partner. This leads to better communication and a healthier relationship. Instead of saying “You make me so angry, why don’t you ever clean up (displacing emotion on partner)!” one should say “I am upset because I feel like I do most of the housework (owning up to how you feel).”
I like Ahmed’s approach to emotions as well. Anger and hate are such strong emotions, and you have conveyed this really well in your blog post. In relating to what Ahmed and Aristotle have said, I know there have been times where I’ve been angry and have had a difficult time keeping it in or directing the anger only at who or what made me angry. I even sometimes warn my friends and family of my mood so that if I unintentionally project any anger or frustration towards them, they know why. However, I’ve learned from Ahmed that when I do unintentionally project or displace my emotions, I am participating in the economic transfer of emotions.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comparison of Ahmed and Aristotle. Ahmed theory explains how singular anger towards an individual can turn into collective hate for a group via economic interactions. The hate we might feel towards a group, Ahmed also suggests, doesn’t originate within us, nor is it intrinsically possessed in the group we hate. Rather it is something we simply occupy or briefly commune with. This makes me wonder where the anger/hate originally comes from. In your example, where does the anger from me doing all the housework originate from?
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Brian said..."Interesting comparison of Ahmed and Aristotle". You have done a really good job of tying our first reading to our last, while also adding your own opinion. Great Post!
ReplyDeleteYes, that seems like a pretty accurate observation. What Ahmed is talking about is probably the basis for hate towards any one "group"-- if we can even say singular groups exist. For instance, a girl has had bad experiences with males in her life. She begins to hate not only the males she has had bad experiences with, but all males as a group. I think the interesting thing about this, tho, is that one encounter with someone who doesn't treat her badly or breaks her stereotype about men can stop this hate from circulating. Positive personal contact can break the circulation.
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