Stories of Violence

• In Event: Narrative Criminology

Abstract

Violence is a central part of human existence. It features in human life, not only as actual physical confrontation, but also as stories. Stories of violence are particularly important among drug dealers. This abundance should not be misinterpreted as a sign that their everyday life is permeated by assaults, robberies and other forms of violent confrontation. Rather, stories of violence are so prevalent because of their multiple symbolic meanings and interactional functions in street life. Drawing on narrative criminology and phenomenology, we explore the meaning and functions of stories of violence shared among a population of Norwegian drug dealers. Data are 70 qualitative interviews conducted in prison. We argue that violent stories are inherently meaningful and that a better understanding of the stories can bring crucial insights into the lives of drug dealers and the organization of street culture. In this paper, we describe how stories of violence are used to establish hierarchies and draw symbolic boundaries between people, entertain and educate audiences, and elicit emotions from listeners and storytellers. More generally we explore the role of these stories in street culture mythology, the link between violent acts and stories, and the importance of narrative environment for stories of violence.

Authors

• Sveinung Sandberg, Oslo University, Norway

• Sebastien Tutenges, Aarhus University, Denmark

• Heith Copes, University of Alabama at Birmingham