Gijs Mom’s “Playing with Risk” critiques Ulrich Beck’s emphasis on fear and risk aversion in his monograph Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. Mom argues that, while Beck focuses on societal fear, especially post-9/11, history shows alternative responses to risk. He highlights Norbert Elias’s concept of “civilizational bark formation,” which describes how society hardens against threats. Another response might be the push forward, the thrill of playing with risk. Historical examples of the latter include the sense of thrill, fear, and danger of early automotive adventures, hot-rodding, and extreme sports. These activities reveal a gendered enjoyment of danger, contrasting Beck’s view. Mom suggests that Beck overlooks the playful and daring aspects of risk, which continue to shape human behavior and mobility.
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