Philosophy for Plebs, Session 14 - Performativity

Join us for an engaging exploration of performative acts and theatrical metaphors in everyday life!

Philip Shakespeare famously wrote:

"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women are merely players; They have their exits and their entrances..."

In this session, we delve into how the concept of performance influences our understanding of various identities and actions, including performative masculinity, activism, and intellectualism.

• Key Texts:
  • Judith Butler’s Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory
  • Bruce Wilshire’s Role Play and Identity: The Limits of Theatre as Metaphor (Ch. 19: The Limits of Theatrical Metaphors)

We’ll analyze these themes and open a dialogue on how theatrical metaphors affect concrete practices in our lives. Are our actions genuinely non-performative, or are they constantly influenced by the societal stage we inhabit?

💡 Recommended Background Reading: Moya Lloyd’s Performativity and Performance

📚 Link to the texts: Read here

📍 Location: Møllegade 10, 2200 København N, Danmark

💬 Don’t miss this chance to dive deep into the philosophy of performance with us!