Invectivity. Constellations and Dynamics of disparagement

Phenomena of vituperation and disparagement, of humiliation and derision not only have an astonishing occurrence in contemporary politics and society; from a cross-cultural, epoch-spanning perspective, they present themselves as fundamental operations of societal communication. As moments of social dis­rup­tion, stabilization, and mobilization, they harbor the potential to build communities and shape socie­ties; their work is simultaneously destructive and productive.

Our joint research project introduces the concept ‘invectivity’ as an umbrella term for such phenomena. ‘Invectivity’ denotes those aspects of (verbal and nonverbal, oral and written, gestural and pictorial) com­munication that are capable of degrading, offending or excluding others.