Comments on: What does one equalize power relationships with, anyway? A bulldozer?

By: Noah

Noah — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:10:35 +0000

I would suggest an aggressive beating with rolling pins.

By: Dara

Dara — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:27:23 +0000

Oh, intent matters most definitely — ditto effect. (Not just who appreciates the aesthetics, but how that appreciation manifests itself; etc.)

By: Nicola

Nicola — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:03:17 +0000

Pragmatic actions can be aesthetic, and obviously aesthetics can be subversive, but I wonder where the line is. When I wear a tie with my blouse and skirt, is that subversive or transgressive? What if I’m all dragged up? Does my intent matter? (I.e., if I’m doing it to make a point, that seems more subversive than if I’m doing it ’cause I like ties and blazers.)

By: Dara

Dara — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:35:52 +0000

Re the aesthetics: Sure. I chose “express” as the verb I associated with transgression to highlight that some. On the other hand, I don’t think that it’s fair to say that actions undertaken for pragmatic ends can’t also have aesthetic value, though — or, for that matter, that aesthetics can’t themselves be instrumentalized for the accomplishment of subversive ends. Aesthetics is certainly an end of itself in transgression, but that doesn’t make it entirely the purview of the conservatives.

By: Nicola

Nicola — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:30:21 +0000

I don’t think there’s a clear dichotomy between transgression and subversion — the fact that so many originally transgressive tropes are now recognizes as tropes, transformed from character to archetype, seems to indicate that there’s bleed over. Still, transgression isn’t about trying to change the world, simply to step outside of it and become its foil. Transgression, I think, is much more aesthetic. Subversion is too pragmatic for art.