By: Waverli Brown
In a digital age of having streaming ability from any device (even a Nintendo DS if one is really tech savvy), seeing someone read a book on the subway, on a park bench during the orange of fall, or sprawled out on a picnic blanket is increasingly rare. On the chance that someone spots a reader in the wild, how often is their book transformed into a chic accessory to match a new outfit? How often are their books displayed online in the “10 Books People Claim to Have Read Just to Sound Cool!”? This brings forth the question: are today’s youth reading for their enjoyment or to meet the latest trend? Are we losing soulful, important writing just to keep up appearances in social groups? Reading to fit into society’s latest trends not only causes ignorance in relation to how political, intellectual, and important reading is, but also fails to acknowledge the problems and issues currently attached to the written word.
Performative reading is what one would imagine it to be: carrying along a book to entice a new romantic partner or maybe reading nonfiction in a cafe, hoping to get noticed for intellectual prowess. Many trends have used performative reading as a key tool of their identity; most recently, that was done with performative males. A lot of people recognize “performative males” from social media like TikTok or Instagram. Typically toting around a feminist classic and a matcha, performative males often portray an image of being sophisticated, well-dressed individuals who are open-minded and appeal to the “female gaze.” The dark academic aesthetic turns academia, a subject purely focused on intellectual advancement, into a social media trend. One search on Pinterest will reveal pictures of dark sweaters, knit skirts, and knee-high socks, accompanied by a moody novel for the perfect rainy day library shot. People want to be seen as intellectual and “well read” both in trends and in daily life. Books and reading are used in various social spheres to uphold or create a certain image for yourself or your brand, whether unconscious or not.
What performative reading does not show is how reading is a political activity. Books are not props. Restricting reading is political. Having access to books is political. Banned books have been a hot topic in recent years, and for good reason. Many banned books hide or restrict the memoirs and allegories of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people, creating a hostile space for those who want to share their stories and express their identities. Additionally, there is debate, specifically relating to the First Amendment, about how banning books restricts the voices of people everywhere. In a study on teachers’ beliefs about censorship and banning books, many expressed that they wanted to educate their students on controversial, lesser-known issues and topics. The restriction of certain reading disadvantages students and teachers who just want to learn. There are also social structures to consider, such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and sex, all of which factor into whether a child has more or less access to books. Typically, White and Asian children have more books in their homes compared to Hispanic and Black children, an unfair statistic that disadvantages certain racial minorities. In families with annual incomes above $100,000, there is greater access to books than in families with annual incomes of less than $35,000. Having access to books for the betterment of children’s success and development is political. Not everyone is granted the same access to what many consider a universal right, which could be part of why the literacy rate in America is declining. Less people are reading for pleasure, while fewer children are succeeding in reading comprehension. Reading should not be an accessory for an image when voices are being cast aside in a country built for all people, not just some. We as a society cannot read books without acknowledging the issues and politics surrounding the activity. We cannot read books without understanding that reading, though it should be a universal right, is a privilege often enjoyed by only the most advantaged of society.
Performative reading causes ignorance about the importance of reading, but that does not mean change is impossible. The next time you pick up a book, be mindful, be aware, and be intentional. Is it really an interesting read, or will it make for an ego boost? Take time to explore different topics, genres, and tastes while remembering that reading is, at this time, a privilege. Take in the words, the phrases, the figures of speech – English classes did not make students pick out the overarching themes in stories for nothing. Reading teaches people to be kinder, to be open-minded, to learn from individuals all over the world, and to grow. Taking a fun picture with a new favorite book has never been the issue. The issue begins when one cannot decipher the author’s theme, the main character’s arc, or the motivations of an impassioned hand.