It would be pedantic of me(I'm not a linguist) to reach for every definition or root of the word, which is why we will just be sticking with a contrast of two forms of it; Performance and Performative.
The two work against one another, since the former seeks to be positive i.e. this athlete performs well under stress v.s. that politician uses performative language to appeal to their base. We often slip between these two modes throughout our day. We even slip into them without knowing as we "log on" or "log off." Alternatively, when we enter a room or exit one. Entering my daughter's school puts me into the niche of a polite, unassuming parent, while on the street I'd greet you with a smile and offer a "Good morning."
I'm currently reading a book about performances and how our insight into them can lead to something being revealed about ourselves. It's an interesting concept, even if I'm not entirely convinced yet. That itself might be the Performative part of me, the part that wants to be contrarian or a skeptic. But, wouldn't that also be its own performance? The role I'm choosing to play in any interaction could be a performance of some kind, even writing this piece out is its own performance. Taken this way, it might lead to social solipsism, which I'm not willing to entertain, even if we otherwise cede that ground to the Honor Levys of the world.
Coming back to the first word, Performance, which taken at brass tax, means (to me), "doing something with excellence." So, if I'm writing, am I doing so with excellence? Or am I being an imposter, which would be its own brand of performative action?
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