The drama of social life / Jeffrey C. Alexander.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Alexander, Jeffrey C., 1947- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Theater and society--Philosophy.

Theater and society.

Political science--Philosophy.

Political science.

Philosophy.

Physical Description:

vi, 189 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; Malden, MA : Polity Press, 2017.

Summary:

"In this book Jeffrey Alexander develops the view that cultural sociology and?cultural pragmatics? are vital for understanding the structural turbulence and political possibilities of contemporary social life. Central to his approach is a new model of social performance that combines elements from both the theatrical avant-garde and modern social theory. Alexander uses this model to shed new light on a wide range of social actors, movements and events: from Mao, Martin Luther King and Fanon to the Arab Spring and Black Lives Matter; from Marx and Keynes to the Great Recession; from Ayn Rand and Jean-Paul Sartre to Obama?s re-election in 2012. These and other examples show that social life is strikingly dramatic. Producing successful dramas determines the outcome of social movements and provides the keys to political power. Modernity has neither eliminated aura nor suppressed authenticity: on the contrary, they are available to social actors who can perform them in compelling ways. This volume further consolidates Alexander?s reputation as one of the most original social thinkers of our time. It will be of great interest to students and scholars in sociology, cultural studies and throughout the social sciences and humanities"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: A new theory of modernity from ritual to performance

Seizing the stage: Mao, MLK, and Black Lives Matter today

Revolutionary performance in Egypt: the 2011 uprising

Political performance in the US: Obama's 2012 re-election

Dramatic intellectuals

Social theory and the theatrical avant-Garde.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Machine generated contents note: Preface and Acknowledgements Introduction: A New Theory of Modernity from Ritual to Performance 1. Seizing the Stage: Mao, MLK, and Black Lives Matter Today 2. Revolutionary Performance in Egypt: The 2011 Uprising 3. Political Performance in the U.S.: Obama's 2012 Re-Election 4. Dramatic Intellectuals 5. Social Theory and the Theatrical Avant-Guard Notes.

Other Format:

Online version: Alexander, Jeffrey C., 1947- Drama of social life.

ISBN:

9781509518128

1509518126

9781509518135

1509518134

OCLC:

958780305