Mary Douglas (b. 1921, Italy – d. 2007, UK)
Purity and Danger, 1966

That’s where my attention to and scepticism of categories got its fuel and articulation from. An anthropological classic that is very good to think with. What is dirt, what is sacred, how come they are often closely related? Yes, those tend to be things “out of place”, things that endanger established categories, established world order. Thus for the commoners they are taboo, but for the powerful they can function as the very source of power, power to preserve or adjust the world order to their own needs.

In other words, categories are essentially arbitrary, yet “naturalised” and as such keep reproducing a particular world view that is bound to serve particular interests and be to disadvantage of others. All the good reasons to keep them in check and see what may be made visible through their subversion. A major driving force for my practice.