NOTES TOWARD A PERFORMATIVE THEORY OF ASSEMBLY

Judith Butler elucidates the dynamics of public assembly under prevailing economic and political conditions, analyzing what they sig nify and how. Understanding assemblies as plural forms of performative action, Butler extends her theory of performativity to argue that precarity?the destruction of the conditions of livability?has been a galvanizing force and theme in todays highly visible prot ests.Butler broadens the theory of performativity beyond speech acts to include the concerted actions of the body. Assemblies of phy sical bodi...[Read more]