Calling out performative people is exactly how we shape our ideas of authenticity and sincere acts, separating them from disingenuous behavior meant to gain social validation, even if the initial action seems to hold pure intent. It’s a well-documented phenomenon that occurs in humans’ innate desire to distinguish care from harm, obscured by the many veils of potential human deceit and ulterior motives.
Philosophers have argued among each other for centuries about the real meaning of “authenticity” and the paradox of correctly identifying performative behavior. Unfortunately, I alone do not possess a universal, all-encompassing, satisfactory answer that will resolve a philosophical debate that spans multiple millennia.
I can chime in on the cultural resurgence of discussing and rightfully calling out “performative” behavior. To add another layer of complexity to the existing discourse, I raise the question: Have we gone too far?
The term “performative” has recently seen an uptick in popularity, both in colloquial use and online searches, branding it the internet’s new buzzword of the season. It is used to describe someone who publicly acts a certain way to garner attention, gain validation or to project a certain image of themselves.They do not actually put in the work or do so with a hidden agenda. A popular example is performative activism or allyship, where an individual proclaims their support for a movement solely to boost their image but does not do much beyond that.
Searches for the term first peaked in late August and early September and have maintained relatively high since then. he term “performative male,” — an extension of the “performative” trend — shot up in search interest and was indicated as a “Breakout” term— a title given to words that see an increase of 5000% or more in search interest.
Performative culture is, on the surface, a funny pejorative way to mock those who don’t put their money where their mouth is. The broader cultural implication of this bears its ugly head when this criticism is directed toward complete strangers. In these instances, the subject is usually unaware that the sneakily taken photo of them reading on the subway or sipping on a cup of matcha is racking up thousands of comments shaming and criticizing them for engaging in a generally harmless action.
Of course, this is not to say that the “performative male” does not have its merits, as it tackles valid safety concerns about men using facades of intellectualism and progressive ideas to lure women into a false sense of security. This is a prevalent issue that should not be ignored, and discussing the harmful aspects of the performative culture trend is not meant to detract from these problems.
When everyone has a recording device practically strapped to their palms at all times, it’s hard not to feel suffocated by the fact that you’re being surveilled at all times by the people around you. Worrying about whether or not you’ll be recorded to be used as a laughingstock doesn’t help these concerns.
Philosophers Jeremy Bentham and Michel Foucault’s concept of the panopticon is a perfect example of this constant surveillance. You’re never sure when you’re being watched, so you assume that you are always being watched, creating a structure that encourages self-regulation and obedience.
All in all, internet culture has gotten harsher and harsher toward strangers who happen to be going about their day within the frame of your phone camera. It indicates larger anthropological issues of toxic individualism, lack of respect for genuine interests and panoptic surveillance that we must tackle as a people.
It’s always good to take a step back from the whirlwind of social media trends, fads, and buzzwords to recenter ourselves and consider the weight of our actions.
The opinions desk can be reached at opinions@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons | Warner Bros. Records
