(Critical Junkyard) "Risk Society"

During our readings of Buell and Beck, the Risk Society kept popping up. A Risk Society is prepared for the environmental consequences that could *possibly happen, but have not really occurred yet, or at all. It views the future as living with decisions, rather than danger, so a Risk Society seems pretty optimistic and pragmatic at the same time. Risk Societies are aware of the past, present, and future, and the possibility of danger or disaster happening due to their actions at some point. Fear Societies reevaluate the cultural constructs of what is valued because having an element of fear or anxiety in the culture places more emphasis on totalitarian laws.