Abstract

The dissertation is an exploration of political action that does not have the State as its site or even its focus. I begin conceptually with Augusto Boal's performance of invisible theater. It is a technique that resembles guerrilla theater but differs in that those who witness it are never aware that it is a performance. This technique serves to disrupt many of the categories and boundaries of what constitutes the political as well as how one conceives of political action. Engaging in invisible theater resists identification with the State as well as with any rigidly formed organization. It is a performance that remains invisible both during and after its appearance. It is with this tactic in mind that I attempt to establish an historical and genealogical development of thought that is attentive to what I call "momentary engagements in resistance." ;Momentary engagements in action seek to resist the recuperative forces of the State. The dissertation is largely concerned with the way in which political action is currently approached. Traditional strategies such as demonstrations, letter-writing campaigns, legislative efforts, and the like are too easily absorbed by the State and by the forces of capitalism. Not only do these mainstream approaches fail to level systemic critiques of modern political crises but when they do, the message becomes spectacularized, commodified, and co-opted. I am interested in exploring alternative forms of political action that exist largely in the moment thereby making recuperation difficult. This approach is not meant to simply replace one form of political action with another. Instead, it is offered as a tactic that may serve to resolve some of the more complex problems of current activism