Indeed it may be only by risking the incoherence of identity that connection is possible.
Judith ButlerRead
There is a new venue for theory, necessarily impure, where it emerges in and as the very event of cultural translation. This is not the displacement of theory by historicism, nor a simple historicization of theory that exposes the contingent limits of its more generalizable claims.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote explores the evolving nature of theory in the context of cultural translation, suggesting it is shaped by historical contexts but not confined to them.
Judith Butler's quote reflects on the idea that theory does not exist in a vacuum; rather, it is influenced by historical events and cultural translations. While acknowledging the imperfections in applying theoretical concepts to various contexts, she emphasizes that this interaction enriches theory rather than diminishes it. The emergence of theory should accommodate the complexities and nuances of cultural translation, leading to a more nuanced understanding that resists simplistic interpretations or reductions.
Themes
TheoryCultural TranslationContextHistoryPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on cultural studies, one might reference this quote to illustrate the dynamic relationship between theory and practice.
More from Judith Butler
All quotes →When we say gender is performed, we usually mean that we've taken on a role or we're acting in some way and that our acting or our role playing is crucial to the gender that we are and the gender that we present to the world.
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It's my view that gender is culturally formed, but it's also a domain of agency or freedom and that it is most important to resist the violence that is imposed by ideal gender norms, especially against those who are gender different, who are nonconforming in their gender presentation.
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I do not deny certain kinds of biological differences. But I always ask under what conditions, under what discursive and institutional conditions, do certain biological differences - and they're not necessary ones, given the anomalous state of bodies in the world - become the salient characteristics of sex.
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Sexual harassment law is very important. But I think it would be a mistake if the sexual harassment law movement is the only way in which feminism is known in the media.
Judith ButlerRead
We act and walk and speak and talk in ways that consolidate an impression of being a man or being a woman.
Judith ButlerRead
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