The Rise of Performative Reading

There’s no right way to read. No golden standard that defines you as a “reader”. Anyone from hardcore wattpad stans to consumers of classics can be considered a “reader”. However there’s a growing trend emerging, stemming from partially booktok and partially a decline of media literacy, and that’s performative reading.

When I say performative reading, I want to clarify that I’m talking about a lack of understanding of the nuance of the activity. While, yes, reading has a lot of intellectual value, I’ve noticed a lot of readers adopting their bookish Rory Gilmore personas to validate a superiority complex. Before I begin, let me state I think all literature has value and reading should be accessible to those beyond professors and academics. I’m merely making a statement on the issue of using reading as a stand in for having a personality and believing that excessive reading should automatically communicate that you are intelligent. The perception that the more books you have, the more you read, and the more popular those books are makes you a ‘better reader’. But this simply is not true. Which transitions into the second issue: the downfall of media literacy and intellectualism when it comes to consumption. This notion that all readers are smart because they read has about as much truth as thinking all movie goers are lazy because they watch movies. It’s not the type of media so much as the quality that speaks to a person's intelligence. For example a reader who only reads little golden books will be consuming less thought provoking content than a movie goer watching interstellar. Reading isn’t inherently defining to a person and while there is no ‘wrong’ way to read, trends like book hauls, booktok books, and the reader girl persona are all contributing to performative reading.  

So what’s the solution? There isn’t really one and there doesn’t have to be. The point of this article isn’t to put an end to performative reading and shame all readers who don’t consume what I consider ‘quality work’. No, it’s simply a reminder that any media form is nuanced and that while you’re more than welcome to participate in these trends, don’t fall victim to the superiority mindset that many people on booktok seem to adopt. Reading doesn’t give you more inherent intellectual value. That comes from you and your analysis, thinking and comprehension. Just because you’re not reading the most trendy books or going through 4 in a week you don’t have any less value as a reader. So remember to read for you and not for an audience.