Performative Lecture

August 19th, “Observations of Predation in Humans”

By Coco Fusco 

This was not a dance: It was a performative lecture.

Disclaimer: I didn’t know anything about this event except that several of my colleagues were excited to go.  And one more –  I didn’t google anything before going.  I just went.  The full title: “Observations of Predation in Humans: A Lecture by Dr. Zira, Animal Psychologist.”

This performance was all about language in both form and content.  It was a retelling of a story, a narrative of the (human) present moment that is overwrought by domination and without much empathy.  It was told in the language of a non-human from the future, looking back.  

I enjoyed not knowing, took delight in the bits of surprise, and left not really knowing more, but knowing it a little differently.

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