Minding the Gap – of Indifference: Approaching ‘Performance Philosophy’ with Salomo Friedlaender (1871-1946)

Abstract

The concept of "Creative Indifference" put forward by Salomo Friedlaender in his 1918 magnum opus, Schöpferische Indifferenz, provides much food for thought from a Performance Philosophy perspective. Friedlaender's work, which has been largely overlooked by academic philosophers until now, was in fact hugely influential in expressionist Dada circles at the time of its publication. It also contributed to shaping Gestalt Therapy theories and practice, thereby relating to a number of bodywork movements that continue to inform performance practice and Performance Philosophy alike. In this short text, Alice Lagaay begins to explore the manner in which Friedlaender/Mynona can be seen as a Performance Philosopher “avant la lettre”, and how the notion of "Creative Indifference” might be fruitful in the ongoing "Mind-the-Gap”- debate relating to the relation between “Performance" and "Philosophy".

Performance Philosophy: an introduction

“…Whether or not they have been framed as such by their authors, we are now seeing some books being described as works of 'performance philosophy' (Pittman, 2016 5 ;Goulish, 2014). Though there are also references to the idea of performance philosophy as a retrospective label or category -that might also be used to describe historical figures or practices 'avant la lettre' (Lagaay, 2015).…”

The Routledge Companion to Performance Philosophy

“…Whether or not they have been framed as such by their authors, we are now seeing some books being described as works of 'performance philosophy' (Goulish 2014; Pittman 2016 2 ). Though there are also references to the idea of performance philosophy as a retrospective label -that might also be used to describe and reconsider historical figures or practices 'avant la lettre' (Lagaay 2015). simultaneous processes at work now in the writing of this text.…”

“…The journal was launched in the spring of 2015 during the Chicago conference 'What can Performance Philosophy do?' (Lagaay 2015). Hartmut Geerken was alerted to the article and contacted me by email soon after its publication.…”