Performativity vs. Performance — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 3, 2024
Performativity highlights the ways actions can construct identity or convey meaning, while performance often refers to the act of presenting art or a display of skills.
Difference Between Performativity and Performance
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Performativity involves the concept that certain speech acts or expressions do more than convey information; they perform an action and have the power to effect change or construct reality. This idea is crucial in linguistics, philosophy, and gender studies, suggesting that language can shape social reality and identity. Performance, on the other hand, traditionally refers to the act of presenting a form of entertainment or art to an audience. It encompasses theater, music, dance, and other forms of artistic expression, focusing on the execution of skills, talent, and presentation.
While performativity is deeply embedded in how actions and language contribute to the construction of identities and realities, performance emphasizes the technical and expressive skills involved in artistic endeavors. Performativity often operates unconsciously in daily interactions, embedding itself in the fabric of social and personal identity construction. In contrast, performance is usually a deliberate, conscious act aimed at entertainment, expression, or communication.
Performativity extends beyond the mere act of speaking or doing; it is about the effectiveness and transformative power of language and actions within specific contexts. It is often analyzed in how gender, for instance, is performed and constructed through repetitive actions. Performance, however, is evaluated based on its aesthetic, technical, and emotional impact, focusing on how well the art or act is executed and received by an audience.
In the realm of performativity, the focus is on the societal norms, cultural contexts, and power dynamics that language and actions navigate and construct. It's about how identities are performed and made real through discourses and practices. Performance, conversely, often involves rehearsal, preparation, and presentation, with an emphasis on creativity, skill, and engagement with the audience.
Despite their differences, both performativity and performance share an interest in how actions and expressions create meanings and affect audiences. While performativity delves into the construction of social realities and identities through performative acts, performance explores the artistry and communicative power of presenting to an audience.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The concept that actions and speech acts can construct identity and reality.
The act of presenting art or a display of skills to an audience.
Focus
On how language and actions shape social realities and identities.
On the execution and presentation of artistic endeavors.
Context
Social, linguistic, and philosophical studies.
Arts, entertainment, and public presentations.
Evaluation Criteria
Effectiveness in constructing realities and identities.
Artistic quality, technical skill, and audience engagement.
Examples
Gender performance, ritualistic actions.
Theater plays, music concerts, dance performances.
Compare with Definitions
Performativity
Concept of Action.
Judith Butler argues that gender performativity shapes social identity through repeated actions.
Performance
Public Speaking.
Delivering a motivational speech is a form of performance.
Performativity
Speech Acts.
Saying I do in a wedding ceremony performs the act of marrying.
Performance
Artistic Presentation.
A Shakespeare play at a theater is a classical example of performance.
Performativity
Cultural Practices.
Traditional ceremonies perform cultural continuity and identity.
Performance
Skill Display.
A virtuoso violinist's concert showcases musical performance.
Performativity
Social Construction.
Everyday greetings can perform social bonds and respect.
Performance
Dance and Movement.
Ballet dancers perform both the art and technique of dance.
Performativity
Identity Formation.
Dress codes at work perform professional identities.
Performance
Sports.
An athlete's participation in the Olympics is a peak performance.
Performativity
Performativity is the concept that language can function as a form of social action and have the effect of change. The concept has multiple applications in diverse fields such as anthropology, social and cultural geography, economics, gender studies (social construction of gender), law, linguistics, performance studies, history, management studies and philosophy.
Performance
A performance is an act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function.
Performativity
Relating to or being an utterance that performs an act or creates a state of affairs by the fact of its being uttered under appropriate or conventional circumstances, as a justice of the peace uttering I now pronounce you husband and wife at a wedding ceremony, thus creating a legal union, or as one uttering I promise, thus performing the act of promising.
Performance
The act of performing or the state of being performed.
Performativity
A performative utterance.
Performance
The act or style of performing a work or role before an audience.
Performativity
(philosophy) The capacity of language and expressive actions to perform a type of being.
Performance
The way in which someone or something functions
The pilot rated the airplane's performance in high winds.
Performativity
The quality of being performative.
Performance
A presentation, especially a theatrical one, before an audience.
Performance
Something performed; an accomplishment.
Performance
(Linguistics) One's actual use of language in actual situations.
Performance
The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action.
The performance of an undertaking or a duty
Though the result wasn't what we were hoping for, I have to commend the performance of the team, never giving up until the end.
Performance
That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; especially, an action of an elaborate or public character.
Performance
(arts) A live show or concert.
The band played a mix of old and new songs during their 90-minute performance.
We saw the whole ballet performance from the front row.
Performance
The amount of useful work accomplished estimated in terms of time needed, resources used, etc.
Better performance means more work accomplished in shorter time and/or using fewer resources.
Performance
(linguistics) The actual use of language in concrete situations by native speakers of a language, as opposed to the system of linguistic knowledge they possess (competence), cf. linguistic performance.
Performance
The act of performing; the carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action; as, the performance of an undertaking of a duty.
Promises are not binding where the performance is impossible.
Performance
That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; esp., an action of an elaborate or public character.
Performance
A dramatic or musical entertainment;
They listened to ten different performances
The play ran for 100 performances
The frequent performances of the symphony testify to its popularity
Performance
The act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it;
They criticised his performance as mayor
Experience generally improves performance
Performance
The act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment;
We congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal
An inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto
Performance
Process or manner of functioning or operating;
The power of its engine determine its operation
The plane's operation in high winds
They compared the cooking performance of each oven
The jet's performance conformed to high standards
Performance
Any recognized accomplishment;
They admired his performance under stress
When Roger Maris powered four home runs in one game his performance merits awe
Common Curiosities
What is performativity?
Performativity refers to the concept that certain actions and speech acts have the power to construct reality and identity.
Is performativity always intentional?
No, performativity often occurs unconsciously as individuals navigate societal norms.
What is performance?
Performance is the act of presenting art or a display of skills to an audience.
How does performativity relate to identity?
Performativity shapes identity through the repetitive performance of social norms and roles.
Are all performances artistic?
While many performances are artistic, the term can also apply to any public display of skills or communication.
How do performativity and performance differ in evaluation?
Performativity is evaluated based on its impact on constructing realities and identities, while performance is assessed for its artistic quality and audience engagement.
Can performance be considered performativity?
Yes, when viewed as the enactment of roles that communicate and construct identities, performance can be seen as a form of performativity.
How do cultural contexts affect performativity and performance?
Cultural contexts provide the norms and expectations that shape the meanings and receptions of both performativity and performance.
Do performativity and performance overlap in theater?
Yes, in theater, performative actions construct characters and narratives, while the performance aims to engage and entertain the audience.
Can everyday actions be considered performances?
Yes, everyday actions can be considered performances when they are done with the intention of presenting oneself in a certain way.
How is performance measured?
Performance is often measured by criteria such as skill, creativity, emotional impact, and audience response.
What role does the audience play in performance?
The audience's reception and interpretation are crucial in determining the success and impact of a performance.
Can a single action be both performative and a performance?
Yes, actions can serve both to construct identity (performativity) and to entertain or engage an audience (performance).
Is performativity a modern concept?
The concept of performativity has been developed in modern theoretical frameworks, especially in linguistics and gender studies.
How does performativity influence social interactions?
Performativity influences social interactions by framing the ways individuals perform and interpret identity through language and actions.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
