Vice announces new documentary ‘Violent Times’
Vice has announced a new documentary, Violent Times, which explores the psychology behind violence.
The announcement:
VICE today announces a bold new documentary series, VIOLENT TIMES — a confronting exploration of the psychology behind violence, of all kinds.
Co-produced and hosted by VICE writer Mahmood Fazal — whose Inside/Outsider column was recently featured by The Walkley Foundation — VIOLENT TIMES seeks to deconstruct our relationship to violence; state sanctioned, criminal and sexual.
In Australia, violence can simultaneously feel necessary, disgusting and fascinating, depending on who is perpetrating it. As an outlaw biker, psychology graduate and the son of Afghan refugees, Fazal’s interest in the psychology behind violence looks at what drives someone to engage in violence, and how it affects them afterwards.
In the episode one, VIOLENT TIMES meets Graham ‘Abo’ Henry. For almost 30 years, Henry and his partner Neddy Smith ruled the Sydney underworld with the endorsement of Australia’s most crooked cop Roger Rogerson. Together they went head-to-head with other gangs, drug-dealers, bent cops, and finally each other. Abo Henry enforced violence through the criminal underworld, raking in millions, and living by his own code of honour; one of looking after your mates, and never dobbing on them. His criminal career came to an end on what is known as Sydney’s deadliest pub crawl, which culminated in Henry stabbing police prosecutor Mal Spence in the stomach and throat.
Mahmood Fazal said, “Violence has always haunted the human narrative; 430,000 year old fossils from Spain showed intentional interpersonal violence. I think the only thing that has changed is that violence has mutated and reacted to the respective context. At what point is violence excused? What is our role in state sanctioned violence? Why do we find violence entertaining? What about those who find violence arousing, or therapeutic?”
The following VIOLENT TIMES episode will look at soldiers, violence and war through Sgt Paul Cale, arguably Australia’s toughest soldier. Cale’s special forces Commando regiment has seen more violence and casualties than any other Australian military outfit, with Cale now developing combat strategies for special forces units around the world.
Source: Vice
