On Dry Othering

Existing theories of Othering can be thought of as 'wet Othering'. They focus in metaphorical and material ways on the slimey and ambivalent. In such theories othering is associated with intense emotional reactions. Those perceiving the 'Other' feel intense hatred, disgust and dread.  This paper introduces the new concept of 'dry othering'. This involves a completely different logic. Those doing the Othering feel - or are believed to feel - nothing at all. The victim of Othering is a mere object to them - one that does not evoke emotional responses. The logic of action is not symbolic as in wet othering but rather overly-instrumental. Victims of this kind of Othering are traumatized not by an awareness that others think they are disgusting and enjoy their humiliation (an emotional response) but rather by realizing that they are mere objects to the Otherer (who has no emotional response). Social theory on the gaze is used to make sense of this situation. The theory is illustrated with reference to accounts of unethical medical experiments, Alien abduction narratives, animal attacks, torture and serial killing.