A new book from Emeritus Professor John Lechte, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, explores the intricate relationship between violence and the image, and how these elements together shape and characterise the experience of the victim.

Violence, Image and Victim in Bataille, Agamben and Girard offers a comprehensive examination of the roles played by violence and the image in the philosophies of Georges Bataille, Giorgio Agamben and René Girard, shedding light on their significance. Each of these philosophers receives dedicated chapters within the book for a focused examination of their views.

“Violence, Image and Victim in Bataille, Agamben and Girard provides, for the first time, a deep appreciation of the significance of the three terms in the title – particularly violence. It also shows how violence, image and victim are necessarily linked to each other in the work of three key contemporary thinkers,” says Emeritus Professor Lechte.

The book underscores the contemporary relevance of Bataille, Agamben and Girard, who endeavour to reveal the underpinnings of society and culture within the context of power and the sacred. It argues that an exploration of power unveils the intricate connection between violence and the image, offering insights into the experience of victimhood.

The concluding chapter signals future research on the relationship between victim and the law. It begs the question: Can the law do the victim as scapegoat justice?

A hard copy of this book is available to borrow at the Macquarie University Library, or you can read the book online here.