Performative Reading is Middle Class

[Anonymous]

I just finished the New Yorker piece on performative reading. Actual performative reading signals insecurity because of its inauthenticity and is decidedly middle class as are the folks poking fun and making a spectacle of it on social media. However, foregoing social media and reading difficult literature for pleasure (and authentically) is becoming a higher status thing due to the brain rot that the proliferation of algorithmic social media and smart phones has caused in our society.

Whether it’s authentic or not, I certainly think more highly of someone reading a physical book than I do the hordes of phone addicted zombies scrolling endlessly on the metro. If nothing else, maybe this trend will improve our reading habits!

Change my mind!

[Anonymous]

What is the difference between "performative reading" and "reading"?

What if I read long form articles like those in New York via an app on my phone, but don't read books? Is this performative? Is it middle class behavior or upper class behavior? Is it prestigious?

[Anonymous]

You’re gonna need to tell us what performative reading is. Reading in public?

[Anonymous]

Count on DCUM to make everything about class, which wasn't the point of the article

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Count on DCUM to make everything about class, which wasn't the point of the article

And also conflating money with class, yet again.

[Anonymous]

My secret reading of dcum is a high-class activity. Because it is a secret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished the New Yorker piece on performative reading. Actual performative reading signals insecurity because of its inauthenticity and is decidedly middle class as are the folks poking fun and making a spectacle of it on social media. However, foregoing social media and reading difficult literature for pleasure (and authentically) is becoming a higher status thing due to the brain rot that the proliferation of algorithmic social media and smart phones has caused in our society.

Whether it’s authentic or not, I certainly think more highly of someone reading a physical book than I do the hordes of phone addicted zombies scrolling endlessly on the metro. If nothing else, maybe this trend will improve our reading habits!

Change my mind!

Why should anyone try to change your mind?! You feel the need to be manipulated by the masses - it just means you are the MC rube your post is about. Just have an opinion - who cares what others or the New Yorker says. I don’t do social media and never “performatively” read (whatever that is). I do listen to audible and go through a book or two a week. When I’m on vacation I actually read the real deal page turning and all. Audible just lets me get my steps in and “read”.

[Anonymous]

According to DCUM, middle class means I have a 4000 sqft home in NOVA (inside the beltway), two nice cars, a retirement, healthcare, college for the kids, international vacations and the ability to shop without thinking about it at Whole Foods. Plus I get to read real books with pages?

SIGN ME UP!

[Anonymous]

Are physical books the only real books?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My secret reading of dcum is a high-class activity. Because it is a secret.

I read DCUM because I got tired of book clubs where nobody reads the books, having a subscription to The New Yorker when Trump is president because then I have to contemplate that way more than I can stand to, and reading real books on my own that nobody else wants to hear about because the books are too intellectual.

Being a nerd is socially exhausting. I've already read enough books for multiple normal person lifetimes. I'm in my DCUM and Reddit era now. It reminds me of the Usenet of my youth.

[Anonymous]

What about performative posting? Change my mind.

[Anonymous]

At least they're reading.

[Anonymous]

I read heavy $hit at work ALL DAY LONG. The last thing I want to do is read something heavy when I go home. I’m going to read People Magazine.

Change my mind.

[Anonymous]

Tf is performative reading

[Anonymous]

There is something ironic about reporting on an article you read in the New Yorker about performative reading.

For a long time the New Yorker was the only print reading I did because it was so dang performative. Then my subscription lapsed and I was forced to start reading romantasy and sci fi. Much happier!