Theater of the present: practice of radical anarchy?

Abstract

This article aims to explore the relationships between the present, anarchy, theater, acedia, and transformation by employing a specific contemporary philosophical framework rooted in Nietzsche and adopting the form of an open essay. Within this context, philosophical figures are selected as instrumental operators who navigate a theatrical trajectory, creating their own distinct stage. This approach acknowledges their necessary historical and philosophical limitations while emphasizing the presentation and mapping of the themes surrounding the present anarchic movement. The structure of the article unfolds in the following manner: it begins by drawing back the curtains on the theater of the present (I), providing a contemporary glimpse into the thematic elements presented through the characters Nietzsche, Foucault, and Veyne (II). It then introduces a philosophical exploration that harkens back to the ancient stage, seeking to establish a potential thematic connection between theater, the present, and acedia. This section also incorporates specific contributions from the preceding scene (III). Finally, as the curtains of the theater of the present close, the article materializes certain open-ended questions embedded within the transformative theme, drawing from ongoing research conducted in our present-day contexts (IV).