Passivity is the expression of a fundamental, as well as dignified human condition. Focusing on the passive parts of existence allows us to discover new ways of relating to the other, and to our shared world. When passivity is explored as a way of being for the subject, rather than against the subject, its indeterminacy comes to the fore. Such passivity is not an object over which consciousness can reign. It comes into being with the subject and the world, but it cannot be switched on and off at will, nor does it submit to the subject’s potency. With passivity, the mediocrity rather than exceptionalism of human nature comes to the fore, which is a promising perspective for relating differently to the animals, plants, rocks, and humans that make up our world.
Since antiquity, passivity has been coupled with femininity, and their close bond has prevailed in subsequent Western thought. In their work, Angelica explores this connection between femininity and passivity in order to rethink the status of the subject. In their analysis of passive phenomena - of hesitation, of sickness, of sleep, of boredom, of pleasure - they always take into account their role for/in feminine life. Motivated by the assumption that the subject is never neutral, they understand femininity as a way of being toward the world, not as an essential attribute shared by a determined demographic. Angelica’s philosophical work is deeply intertwined with femme-ininity studies, feminist theory, queer theory, and sexuality studies, as well as informed by critical race studies, trans studies, and disability studies.
Angelica is currently working on the phenomenon of boredom in relation to the femme-inine subject. This research draws on contemporary philosophical writing on the political aspects of boredom, but rather than basing its observations on a masculine subject, their analysis leans on queer sex workers’ own writing on boredom, and explores the passive politics that this potentiates.
Since antiquity, passivity has been coupled with femininity, and their close bond has prevailed in subsequent Western thought. In their work, Angelica explores this connection between femininity and passivity in order to rethink the status of the subject. In their analysis of passive phenomena - of hesitation, of sickness, of sleep, of boredom, of pleasure - they always take into account their role for/in feminine life. Motivated by the assumption that the subject is never neutral, they understand femininity as a way of being toward the world, not as an essential attribute shared by a determined demographic. Angelica’s philosophical work is deeply intertwined with femme-ininity studies, feminist theory, queer theory, and sexuality studies, as well as informed by critical race studies, trans studies, and disability studies.
Angelica is currently working on the phenomenon of boredom in relation to the femme-inine subject. This research draws on contemporary philosophical writing on the political aspects of boredom, but rather than basing its observations on a masculine subject, their analysis leans on queer sex workers’ own writing on boredom, and explores the passive politics that this potentiates.