Bare-Knuckle Politics: Modal Configurations of Brutality

Abstract

One of the most comminative, irrevocable and aggressive discursive configurations is undoubtedly that of the "formula", the slogan, the "little phrase that kills". All these short forms leave no room for interaction and close off any possibility of dialogue, producing by their "lapidary" nature that effect of simplification, naturalisation and reification which, according to Roland Barthes, characterizes the discourse of intimidation and "arrogance". This article explores the semiotic "reasons" responsible for the brutal effects of meaning that emerge from this type of communication. We will try to show that this discursive violence is not only present in the lexicon (insults, rude words, insults, etc.), but perhaps above all in its semiotic form, both at the level of expression and content, and at all levels of meaning, in terms of enunciative, aspectual, modal or rhythmic dimensions.