Papers by Brian A. Monahan
Disasters and emergencies are often characterized by heightened levels of structural ambiguity an... more Disasters and emergencies are often characterized by heightened levels of structural ambiguity and uncertainty; conditions which may create an opportunity for symbolic figures or groups to emerge and ascend to a position of acclaim and high status. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, one group, the Fire Department of N e w York (FDNY), emerged as an idealized symbol of America at its best. In the face of great uncertainty and unknown risks, firefighters came to be perceived as transcending their instrumental actions and vocations to set a standard of readiness, response, and resolve. Drawing on the microprocesses outlined by Klapp in his work on symbolic leaders and Gusfield's conceptionalization of status groups, a multilevel model is created with three goals in mind (1) extend the explanatory power of previous work by combining macro and micro levels of analysis; (2) provide a framework for discerning why some groups emerge over others; and (3) offer theoretically-informed empirical model that is both testable and predictive to the extant research on this topic.
Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 2005
BRIAN A. MONAHAN is a doctoral candidate in sociology at the University of Delaware. His current ... more BRIAN A. MONAHAN is a doctoral candidate in sociology at the University of Delaware. His current research interests range from the ways in which certain meanings were constructed in relation to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and their aftermath to the microsociological aspects of criminal and deviant activity. JOSEPH A. MAROLLA is an associate professor of sociology and special assistant to the provost for instruction at Virginia Commonwealth University. He has been engaged in research, teaching, and administration for the past thirty years. His current scholarly interests range from deviance through sport studies. His most notable work has been in the area of understanding the behaviors of convicted rapists. "Perpetrators exhibit differential awareness of their own actions, apply divergent meanings to apparently similar actions, and engage in different degrees and types of organization."
Deviant Behavior, 2009
Conducting qualitative research among deviant or criminal populations can be daunting, especially... more Conducting qualitative research among deviant or criminal populations can be daunting, especially when one considers the ambiguities and complexities that often plague such research. A particularly challenging issue that many qualitative researchers face is handling the tensions experienced when trying to assess and achieve the appropriate levels of intimacy or closeness (i.e., developing rapport with subjects and becoming a trusted presence in their lives and social worlds) and detachment (i.e., being able to critically observe and analyze research subjects and the settings in which they operate) during the research process. This article draws on interviews with 29 leading and emerging deviance and crime
This study examines contemporary crime and punishment discourse in mass media to better understan... more This study examines contemporary crime and punishment discourse in mass media to better understand the institutionalization of hyper- punitive sanctions as acceptable forms of social control. Our principal focus is on gonzo rhetoric, or the discourse and symbolism used to promote and justify exaggerated acts of punishment. Using a content analysis of 136 broadcast transcripts, we examine the rhetorical tech- niques employed by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of Maricopa County, Arizona, in order to show how this brand of ‘‘crime talk’’ has become a central com- ponent of modern crime control culture. We suggest that the appeal of gonzo rhetoric is rooted in longstanding cultural assumptions about crime and disorder.
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Papers by Brian A. Monahan