Reading preferences reveal insight into your personality: unveiling what your book choices disclose about you
In the digital age, reading has taken on a new form of expression, blending literature with social media culture. This phenomenon, known as performative reading, has sparked debates and discussions about the authenticity of reading and its impact on modern communities.
One such example of a book that has been read performatively is "Small Pleasures" by Clare Chambers, a historical romance novel with a captivating tangerine cover. This book, like many others, has become a symbol of identity and social connection among Gen Zers, who share their reading experiences online, fostering new literary communities.
Performative reading, however, is not inherently bad. It transforms reading into a visible, sometimes artistic act, often blending personal expression and social signaling. Critics argue that all readers absorb literature differently, and performative reading does not necessarily mean superficial reading. In fact, it can lead to diverse reading styles, with some effectively assimilating texts even while reading for an audience or amid distractions.
One of the key aspects of performative reading is community building. By publicly showcasing reading habits, Gen Zers create interactive literary cultures where books become communal talking points, reinforcing connections and collective identity. However, this performativity can also be critiqued as attention-seeking or for image-building rather than literary appreciation.
The trend of using books as a way to project certain images and affiliations is evident in the popularity of books like "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, reminiscent of Timothée Chalamet's brooding image, or "1984" by George Orwell, a symbol of deep thinking about the world. Meanwhile, books like "Giovanni's Room" by James Baldwin, a novel about same-sex romance, set in Paris, and described as the "antidote to shame," or "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari, offering a broad overview of the history of the human species, have become symbols of intellectualism.
BookTok, a TikTok community focused on books, has received both praise and criticism. While it has been instrumental in expanding public engagement with texts and building literary communities, it has also been criticised for fostering superficial reading and promoting certain books over others. This was evident in the criticism Milly Bobby Brown's fiction novel "Nineteen Steps" received from BookTok.
Despite the debates, it's clear that performative reading has reshaped how literature is experienced and valued in modern communities. It has opened up literature to a wider audience, fostered new forms of community and cultural expression, and challenged traditional ideas of solitary, private reading. However, it's important to remember that the brain processes text regardless of perceived intent, and performative readers may still deeply understand the literature even if part of their motivation is external validation.
In conclusion, the trend of performative reading among Gen Z has brought about a unique blend of literature and social media culture. While it risks being dismissed as superficial or showy, it also offers new opportunities for literature to be a tool for self-expression, identity formation, and community building. Books like "Small Pleasures" serve as a testament to this, becoming more than just a piece of literature but a symbol of identity and connection.
References: [1] Boyd, D. M. (2010). It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. [2] Marwick, A. (2013). Status update: Celebrity, publicity, and branding in the social media age. New York: NYU Press. [3] Kansa, E. (2013). The performative power of reading in a digital age. Journal of Literature and Aesthetics, 13(2), 229-244.
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