Gestures of Concern
Gestures of Concern by Chris Ingraham, published by Duke University Press on August 28, 2020, is a 264-page exploration of the role of seemingly trivial gestures in social and political contexts. In this work, Ingraham examines how actions like sending a “Get Well” card or wearing an “I Voted” sticker may not have direct instrumental effects but carry significant affective weight within social relations. The book argues that these gestures are essential for creating the conditions necessary for broader social or political change, emphasizing their importance in public life.
Readers will find that Gestures of Concern delves into the ways everyday actions contribute to building affective communities, which can foster a sense of connection and shared purpose. Ingraham’s analysis highlights the impact of gestures in shaping civic engagement and political discourse, suggesting that they play a crucial role in establishing momentum for change. By focusing on the aesthetic and rhetorical practices of public life, this book offers insights into how acts often deemed trivial can be pivotal in promoting inclusivity and social progress.
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In Gestures of Concern Chris Ingraham shows that while gestures such as sending a “Get Well” card may not be instrumentally effective, they do exert an intrinsically affective force on a field of social relations. From liking, sharing, posting, or swiping to watching a TED Talk or wearing an “I Voted” sticker, such gestures operate as much through affective registers as they do through overt symbolic action. Ingraham demonstrates that gestures of concern are central to establishing the necessary conditions for larger social or political change because they give the everyday aesthetic and rhetorical practices of public life the capacity to attain some socially legible momentum. Rather than supporting the notion that vociferous public communication is the best means for political and social change, Ingraham advances the idea that concerned gestures can help to build the affective communities that orient us to one another with an imaginable future in mind. Ultimately, he shows how acts that many may consider trivial or banal are integral to establishing those background conditions capable of fostering more inclusive social or political change.
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