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'''Grief porn''' is a ] ] expression often used to describe a hyper-attention, intrusive ] and "gratuitous indulgence of tangential association with tragedy".<ref name=OB>{{cite web | title=Boo hoo, said the crocodile | url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/observer/archives/2005/04/07/boo_hoo_said_th.html | work=ObserverBlog | publisher=The Guardian | date= | accessdate=2009-06-02}}</ref> It is usually used to describe the behavior of the ] in the wake of a tragedy. It is distinct from '']'' in that it describes a forced or artificial commiseration in response to unfortunate events, whereas the latter refers to a joy at the misfortune of others. Commentators have noted that the distinction can be blurred by the ] and its need to produce news stories. '''Grief porn''' is a ] expression often used to describe a hyper-attention, intrusive ] and "gratuitous indulgence of tangential association with tragedy".<ref name=OB>{{cite web | title=Boo hoo, said the crocodile | url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/observer/archives/2005/04/07/boo_hoo_said_th.html | work=ObserverBlog | publisher=The Guardian | date= | accessdate=2009-06-02}}</ref> It is distinct from '']'' which refers to a joy at the misfortune of others.{{Fact|date=June 2009}}


== Origin of usage == == Origin of usage ==
The expression is common with a long history<ref>http://www.hippopress.com/film/moonlightmile.html</ref><ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=n0h2O_VVNDsC&pg=PA91&dq=grief-porn</ref><ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=IhTkZ6K8c3sC&pg=PA133&dq=grief-porn</ref><ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=BPGA3dWRjmcC&pg=PA180&dq=grief-porn</ref> and has been described by Robert Yates, an assistant editor for '']'' as:{{cquote|''Grief Porn''. (n.) Gratification derived from a tenuous connection to the misfortunes of others; the gratuitous indulgence of tangential association with tragedy; getting off on really bad news.<ref name=OB />}}
The term was reportedly first coined by Robert Yates, an assistant editor for '']'' in a news conference on April 7, 2005. Described as the following:
{{cquote|''Grief Porn''. (n.) Gratification derived from a tenuous connection to the misfortunes of others; the gratuitous indulgence of tangential association with tragedy; getting off on really bad news.<ref name=OB />}}


Yates was remarking on the phenomenon he first noticed following the death of ] and the media frenzy that occurred afterward. He further noted that it usually occurs in times of national mourning and international disaster, and commented dryly that it primarily affects people working in media.<ref name="OB" />}} Yates was remarking on the phenomenon he first noticed following the death of ] and the media frenzy that occurred afterwards. He reportably observed an increase in activity during times of national mourning and international disaster, and commented dryly that it primarily affects people working in media.<ref name="OB" />}}


Carol Sarler, speaking as a guest columnist for ], sarcastically notes that "this new and peculiar pornography of grief" is sometimes called a 'tribute', "the cruder truth is that ersatz grief is now the new pornography; like the worst of hard-core, it is stimulus by proxy, voyeuristically piggy-backing upon that which might otherwise be deemed personal and private, for no better reason than frisson and the quickening of an otherwise jaded pulse.<ref name="NewType">{{cite web | author=Carol Sarler | title=This new and peculiar pornography of grief | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article2402693.ece | work=Comment | publisher=TimesOnline | date=7 September, 2007 | accessdate=2009-06-02}}</ref> Carol Sarler<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/carolsarler</ref>, writing for ], noted that "this new and peculiar pornography of grief" is sometimes called a 'tribute', "the cruder truth is that ersatz grief is now the new pornography; like the worst of hard-core, it is stimulus by proxy, voyeuristically piggy-backing upon that which might otherwise be deemed personal and private, for no better reason than frisson and the quickening of an otherwise jaded pulse.<ref name="NewType">{{cite web | author=Carol Sarler | title=This new and peculiar pornography of grief | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article2402693.ece | work=Comment | publisher=TimesOnline | date=7 September, 2007 | accessdate=2009-06-02}}</ref>

⚫ ''The Times's'' ], defines the term as "a rather tasteless fascination with other people's disasters and a sentimentalism that is out of place"<ref name="Finkelstein">{{cite web | author=Daniel Finkelstein | title=Can you solve the Madeleine McCann case? | url=http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2007/09/why-are-we-rive.html | work=Comment Central | publisher=Times Onlie | date= | accessdate=2009-06-02}}</ref>, but considers it misapplied at times. Using the example of the ] a four-year-old child who went missing while on holiday with her parents, Finkelstein theorizes that "we don't follow the McCann case because we are grief junkies. Most of us follow it because we fancy ourselves as ].<ref name="Finkelstein"/>


⚫ ''The Times's'' ], defines the term as "a rather tasteless fascination with other people's disasters and a sentimentalism that is out of place"<ref name="Finkelstein">{{cite web | author=Daniel Finkelstein | title=Can you solve the Madeleine McCann case? | url=http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2007/09/why-are-we-rive.html | work=Comment Central | publisher=Times Onlie | date= | accessdate=2009-06-02}}</ref>.
== References == == References ==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

Revision as of 01:43, 23 June 2009

Grief porn is a pejorative expression often used to describe a hyper-attention, intrusive voyeurism and "gratuitous indulgence of tangential association with tragedy". It is distinct from Schadenfreude which refers to a joy at the misfortune of others.

Origin of usage

The expression is common with a long history and has been described by Robert Yates, an assistant editor for The Observer as:

Grief Porn. (n.) Gratification derived from a tenuous connection to the misfortunes of others; the gratuitous indulgence of tangential association with tragedy; getting off on really bad news.

Yates was remarking on the phenomenon he first noticed following the death of Princess Diana and the media frenzy that occurred afterwards. He reportably observed an increase in activity during times of national mourning and international disaster, and commented dryly that it primarily affects people working in media.}}

Carol Sarler, writing for The Times (London), noted that "this new and peculiar pornography of grief" is sometimes called a 'tribute', "the cruder truth is that ersatz grief is now the new pornography; like the worst of hard-core, it is stimulus by proxy, voyeuristically piggy-backing upon that which might otherwise be deemed personal and private, for no better reason than frisson and the quickening of an otherwise jaded pulse.

The Times's Daniel Finkelstein, defines the term as "a rather tasteless fascination with other people's disasters and a sentimentalism that is out of place".

References

  1. ^ "Boo hoo, said the crocodile". ObserverBlog. The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  2. http://www.hippopress.com/film/moonlightmile.html
  3. http://books.google.com/books?id=n0h2O_VVNDsC&pg=PA91&dq=grief-porn
  4. http://books.google.com/books?id=IhTkZ6K8c3sC&pg=PA133&dq=grief-porn
  5. http://books.google.com/books?id=BPGA3dWRjmcC&pg=PA180&dq=grief-porn
  6. http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/carolsarler
  7. Carol Sarler (7 September, 2007). "This new and peculiar pornography of grief". Comment. TimesOnline. Retrieved 2009-06-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. Daniel Finkelstein. "Can you solve the Madeleine McCann case?". Comment Central. Times Onlie. Retrieved 2009-06-02.

See also

External links

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