Title: Performative Theory of Culture: Return to the Subject
Abstract: The purpose of the article is to identify the essence and potential of performance theory of culture as an alternative to post-structuralism, regarding the creative possibilities of the subject. The methodology of the research is based on the use of cultural-genetic and structural-system methods for identifying the place of performative theory of culture among other humanitarian projects in general and performative studies in particular. The innovations consist in revealing the key principles of performative theory of culture within such concepts as “performative” and “performance”. Conclusions. Performative theory is an alternative to post-structuralism since it focuses on the creative possibilities of subject and its performative practices. In particular, performative theory analyzes practices, rather than representations of the subject in culture, whereby the active and constantly changing construction of reality is essential. The idea is that culture does not consist of representations, but presentations as productive practices. The potential of performative theory of culture in the analysis of performatives, which give its participants a special experience and function in the format of various performances – from religious to economic. Thus, performative theory of culture makes possible to understand the fundamental causes of culture as a practical environment of human existence.