Prompt: Drawing on the readings we’ve done in class so far, compose an essay that reflects on the potential risks and benefits of powerful emotions like anger for democratic politics. Be sure your essay responds directly to the following questions: Can anger be politically constructive? Can it bolster and strengthen democracy in any way? Can anger be politically destructive? Can it threaten and undermine democracy in any way? Is anger a helpful quality for a good democratic citizen to possess or should a good democratic citizen work to tame and suppress their anger?
-I believe that anger can be politically constructive and we can use it to further political action. But it is also important to mention that it is a dangerous and volatile emotion. (I will include a discussion post I wrote on this topic so you can get a feel for my writing and perspective.)
Sources/readings: *Some will be uploaded.
“The Uses of Anger” by Audre Lorde
“Living a Feminist Life” Sara Ahmed
“The Orestia” Aeschylus
“Ajax” Sophocles
Discussion post: Anger is an ever-present force in the world we live in and one that’s not going away. But as these authors and many others have said, anger should not be an emotion to be dismissed so quickly. Anger, so often written off as disruptive and boorish, is the reason we have political and democratic life as we know it. When people are angry it means they are paying attention to what’s going on around them. In The Uses of Anger Audre Lorde said, “Every woman has a well-stocked arsenal of anger potentially useful against those oppressions, personal and institutional, which brought that anger into being.” And this is absolutely true. For every woman as well as everyone else. Anger forces us to question the systems in place that rule us and to look for ways to change these systems if we deem it necessary. Whether it’s Twitter or Congress anger breathes life into political systems and ensures prolonged interest in democratic policy.
*No other sources can be used.
-The prompt is uploaded as well as the two feminist sources.
*If there is anything you need please contact me!
