Radio series takes a keyhole look at ‘trust’
21 Nov 2007 | Bernie Goldie
‘Trust’ will be the next timely episode in a national radio series being broadcast this election day, Saturday 24 November, coinciding with the release of a book by a University of Wollongong academic entitled “Keywords to War: Reviving language in an age of terror”.
Dr Mary Zournazi has written a groundbreaking exploration of the way that everyday language use in the post September 11 2001 world has instilled a state of fear and war in our minds and communities.
Her new book shows how key words such as freedom, justice and trust have been misused, abused and misappropriated for narrow political ends draining them of meaning and seriously diminishing public life in the process. Dr Zournazi teaches in UOW’s School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication.
The series on ‘Trust’ will be broadcast on the ABC Radio National program “Radio Eye” at 2.52pm this Saturday, 24 November. Dates for remaining episodes include ‘Peace’ on December 8 and ‘War’ on December 29. They too will air at 2.52pm on the “Radio Eye” program.
Dr Zournazi’s intent is simply not to analyse language but to revitalise it.
By tracing the threads of historical meaning and the competing values and ideas contained within words, Dr Zournazi believes it is possible to replenish their deeper meaning, to restore the link between language and moral conscience, and to evoke a compassionate and hopeful alternative to the current political environment.
Inspired by Raymond Williams’ Keywords (1983) and Don Watson’s Death Sentence (2003), Keywords to War is about the making and remaking of the world through language, and is itself a small step towards renewing that world and that language.
Dr Zournazi is the author of several other books including Hope – New Philosophies for Change (2002). She also works as a freelance radio producer and cultural commentator for ABC Radio National.
Keywords to War is published by Scribe, paperback, RRP: $27.95.
MEDIA PLEASE NOTE
Dr Zournazi can be reached by phoning (02) 4221 5191 (w) or (02) 9550 5956 (h).
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