Toward Overcoming Identity Politics – A Question of Effectiveness and Responsibility

Authors

  • Olja Marković

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25038/am.v0i8.103

Keywords:

wounded attachment, identity politics, affirmative resistance, freedom, body, gender, responsibility, Wendy Brown

Abstract

In this paper I will examine the grounds for the desires of marginalized groups to be recognized, by building on Wendy Brown’s critique of identity politics. In that context I will try to actualize the question of responsibility for the sake of critique and revision of the principles underlying identity politics. I will demonstrate how the subjects use identity politics to seek symbolic and legal recognition, by inscribing pain into the law and creating wounded attachments. I will show how the resistance expressed in this manner is ineffective, because the subjects: 1. are normalized and depoliticized; 2. are deprived of the possibility to take action; 3. linger in the past; 4. deny responsibility. After examining the problematic implications produced in this way, I will point out how empowering resistance can be used to overcome pain, as an alternative to identity politics.

Author Biography

Olja Marković

Faculty of Political Sciences, Belgrade
Serbia

Ph.D. student

References

Arent, Hana. Život duha. Beograd: Službeni glasnik, 2009.

Batler, Džudit. Psihički život moći: teorije pokoravanja. Beograd: Fakultet za medije i komunikacije, 2012.

Batler, Džudit. “Kontingentni temelji.” In Feministkinje teoretizuju političko, edited by Džudit Batler, and Džoun Skot. Beograd: Centar za ženske studije, 2006.

Braun, Vendi. Ranjeni identiteti. Beograd: Genero, 2011.

Brown, Wendy. Manhood and Politics: A Feminist Reading in Political Theory. New Jersey: Rowman & Littlefield, 1988.

Brown, Wendy. Edgework- Critical Essays on Knowledge and Politics. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2005.

Brown, Wendy. Regulating Aversion- Tolerance in the Age of Identity and Empire. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400827473

Brown, Wendy. Politics Out of History. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2001.

Brown, Wendy. States of Injury, Power and Freedom in Late Modernity. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691201399

Foucault, Michel. “Space, Power and Knowledge.” In Foucault Live. Interviews, 1961-1984, edited by Sylvère Lotringer. New York: Semiotext(e), 1996.

Fuko, Mišel. Istorija seksualnosti, Volja za znanjem. Loznica: Karpos, 2006.

Niče, Fridrih. Genealogija morala. Beograd: Grafos, 1983.

Skot, Džoun. “Iskustvo.” In Feministkinje teoretizuju političko, edited by Džudit Batler, and Džoun Skot. Beograd: Centar za ženske studije, 2006.

Downloads

Published

15.10.2015

How to Cite

Marković, O. (2015). Toward Overcoming Identity Politics – A Question of Effectiveness and Responsibility. AM Journal of Art and Media Studies, (8), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.25038/am.v0i8.103