Slow Listening: The ethics and politics of paying attention, or shut up and listen. (17th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grehan, Helena
• Is Part Of: Performance research. Volume 24:Number 8(2019)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2019-11-17
• Subjects: listening -- ethics -- politics -- technology -- Shilpa Gupta -- Back to Back Theatre; Performing arts -- Periodicals; 791
• DOI: 10.1080/13528165.2019.1718431
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-8165

Abstract

Abstract : Lots has been written about the need for and value of listening in this era of networked communication and constant feedback loops. But what is listening, really? This paper proposes that the act of slow listening is an ethical and political act. One that can be facilitated by and in response to performance. Further, it proposes that such an act is imperative if we are to have any chance to move beyond, or offer resistance to, the current status quo where the loudest and quickest voices (who are often the least interesting) tend to dominate in all spheres of contemporary life.