Suor, arranhões e diamantes: as contradições dos riscos na modernidade reflexiva

Mary Jane Paris Spink

doi:10.5565/rev/athenea.2501

Sweat, scrapes and diamonds: the contradictions of risk in reflexive modernity

Authors

Mary Jane Paris Spink Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1672-505X

Abstract

This paper takes adventure racing as a starting point from which to discuss the centrality of risk in contemporary society. It goes on to trace the emergence of risk as a linguistic repertoire for providing meaning in everyday life, its relevance for the structuration of risk management as a strategy for the government of populations and its various transformations in the context of ‘risk society’. In this etymological and historical journey, risk is both a new figure resulting from specific social configuration — reflexive modernity — and a window to the past. It is in this confrontation between cultural permanence and technological innovation that it becomes possible to understand the emergence of contemporary types of risk-adventure that foster modes of adventure that are increasingly equipped with technique and know-how to face the inevitable obstacles of adventure; without needing to refer to metaphors of fatality, fortune or even luck.

Keywords

Risk, Adventure, Risk Society, Linguistic Repertoires

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Author Biography

Mary Jane Paris Spink, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo

Professora Titular da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Programa de Estudos Pós-graduados em Psicologia Social. Coordenadora do Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas sobre Práticas Discursivas no Cotidiano. Pesquisadora do CNPq na modalidade produtividade, nível 1A. Autora de vários livros entre eles Viver em Áreas de Risco, publicado em 2018.