Janey Stephenson is a campaigner and filmmaker who is interested in feminism, gender, social justice and human rights. She is passionate about ending violence against women and tweets @rebeljelly.
The Subversive Power of Joy
Within the context of capitalism, collective joy through dancing and other forms of expression is already subversive. Back in 1905, the German sociologist Max Weber warned of an “unprecedented inner loneliness of the single individual” that accompanied the “spirit” of modern capitalism. In a capitalist society founded on competition, privatisation and small family units, collective joy—as opposed to individual happiness—signals both personal resilience and political rebellion. The very act of relishing in a shared connection is a triumph in a society that seeks to divide us.
June 30, 2017