What Good Are Hidden Transcripts?
On James C. Scott, Primo Levi, and Cast Away
James C. Scott coined the term “hidden transcripts” in 1990 to refer to modes of resistance to domination that go undetected by official culture. Examples include a student dragging his chair noisily in a classroom to protest the teacher; a peasant “farting silently” as he bows his head; secret signals and bits of slang that suggest defiance.
Scott’s con…
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