On Opacity
Philosopher and poet Édouard Glissant’s ideas have been influential in political thought, social critique, creative inquiries, and cultural criticism in various corners of the world ever since his English-translated publication of Poetics of Relation became available in 1997. One influential idea he describes is opacity: what cannot be known in identity, phenomena, and human relationship. Glissant’s thoughts and propositions are vital to the foundational research for Takahiro Yamamoto’s Opacity of Performance. For this public conversation, he invites writer and performance theorist Joshua Chambers-Letson to join him in reflecting on what makes Glissant’s proposition so resonant yet so ungraspable.
Joshua Chambers-Letson is a writer and performance theorist who researches and teaches courses in performance studies, critical race theory, and queer of color critique. He is Professor of Performance Studies at Northwestern University, and currently a visiting professor of Theater and Performance Studies at Yale University.
Takahiro Yamamoto is a multi-disciplinary artist, and the director/choreographer for Opacity of Performance.
Accessibility
The Portland Art Museum is pleased to offer accommodations to ensure that our programs are accessible and inclusive. All spaces for this program are accessible by wheelchair. Assistive listening devices are also available for lectures. All restrooms have accessible stalls but no power doors. There are single-stall all-gender bathrooms available. Please ask staff for directions.
We will do our best to accommodate your needs when you arrive, however, we need 2-3 weeks advance notice for some specific requests. Please email requests to access@pam.org, or call 503-226-2811.
