interpassivity

English

Etymology

Blend of interactivity +‎ passivity, coined by cultural theorist Robert Pfaller.

Noun

interpassivity (uncountable)

1. A state of passivity, particularly cognitive or emotional passivity, enabled or facilitated by the appearance or potential of interactivity
   • 1998, Slavoj Žižek, “Cyberspace, or, How to Traverse the Fantasy in the Age of the Retreat of the Big Other”, in Public Culture‎^[1], volume 10, number 3, page 483:

     […] interpassivity, the exact obverse of "interactivity," which refers to the sense of being active through another subject who does the job for one […]

   • 2009, Mark Fisher, chapter 3, in Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?, Zero Books, →ISBN:

     A film like Wall-E exemplifies what Robert Pfaller has called ‘interpassivity’: the film performs our anti-capitalism for us, allowing us to continue to consume with impunity.

   • 2010, Juha Suoranta, Tere Vadén, Wikiworld, Pluto Press, page 133:

     […] the true motivation for readymade laughter in TV comedies is interpassivity: I don't have to engage in recognising, sympathising with and interpreting the drama.

Further reading

• interpassivity on Wikipedia.Wikipedia