Modern discourse treats theatrical imitation of martyrdom as suspect while keeping genuine martyrdom unmarked

Evidence

What is remarkable about these opening paragraphs is that the writer of this account finds herself having to put the familiar theatrical word “sketch” in quotation marks—but not so the equally familiar theological word martyrdom. The reader is given to understand that this is a real tribute to the power of Christian iconography, a real exploration of the nature of (Christian) martyrdom, but that it only “appears” to be a form of theater, an “imitation.” It is a mistake to see it as an illusion. — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular, 594

Categorization

• DEFINE: Highlights how quotation marks flag skeptical distancing from ‘theatrical’ while leaving ‘martyrdom’ unmarked — a subtle definitional convention about what counts as real.
• XREF: connects to: Posthumous martyr images of ordinary victims can unite a divided public — Vincent Bevins, If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and…, 215