[lbo-talk] Iterability and performance

Charles Brown charlesb at cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Thu Jun 5 09:30:37 PDT 2008


Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of "Sex" (1993) Bodies That Matter seeks to clear up readings and misreadings of performativity that view the enactment of sex/gender as a daily choice.[9] To do this, Butler emphasizes the role of repetition in performativity, making use of Derrida's theory of iterability, a form of citationality, to work out a theory of performativity in terms of iterability:

Performativity cannot be understood outside of a process of iterability, a regularized and constrained repetition of norms. And this repetition is not performed by a subject; this repetition is what enables a subject and constitutes the temporal condition for the subject. This iterability implies that 'performance' is not a singular 'act' or event, but a ritualized production, a ritual reiterated under and through constraint, under and through the force of prohibition and taboo, with the threat of ostracism and even death controlling and compelling the shape of the production, but not, I will insist, determining it fully in advance.[10]

Iterability, in its endless undeterminedness as to-be-determinedness, is thus precisely that aspect of performativity that makes the production of the "natural" sexed, gendered, heterosexual subject possible, while also and at the same time opening that subject up to the possibility of its incoherence and contestation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Butler

^^^^ How are these symbolic structures instilled in people ?Iterability. Rote learning. Practice, practice, practice. Practice makes perfect. Learning by repitition. ? Theatrical Play rehearsals for performance and performativity. Memorizing lines. But leaving room for improvisation.

"Eisenstein"

"LIfe is but a poor player that struts and frets across the stage. A tale told by an idiot. Full of sound and fury. Signifying nothing"

But all signifying. A bunch of signifiers with no signified.

Habit. habituation,

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