Interrogating Participation Across Disciplinary Boundaries: Lessons From Political Philosophy, Cultural Studies, and Art

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session I
  In Interactive Paper Session: Philosophy, Theory, and Critique Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Although the concept of participation is an increasingly ubiquitous buzzword across a wide variety of disciplines, the specifics of its scope and applications are insufficiently interrogated. This article traces the use of the term, participation, across three domains - political philosophy, cultural studies, and art - discussing core assumptions about what constitutes meaningful participation in each instance. In particular, for each of these fields of inquiry, attention will be paid to: a) the definition and key debates around participation, b) the degrees of meaningful participation, and c) the strengths of each of these perspectives, particularly in terms of opportunities for productive cross-pollination among these disciplines.

Author

• Ioana Literat, U of Southern California - Annenberg School for Communication