Studying representation requires asking when and how representations act, not just what they show.

Evidence

When he says that “representations have purposes, they are effective much of the time, they accomplish one or many tasks,” he is touching on the fundamentals of Austinian performatives, yet without taking them seriously. There are questions that needed to be asked in this context: What typology of purposes do representations have? Which of these types are pertinent to a study of Orientalism? Which are not? When are representations effective? “Most of the time” tells us nothing about the quality of those representations that do produce effects. When and under what conditions do they accomplish one task, multiple tasks, or none at all? — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 121

Categorization

• QUESTION: Said gestures at Austinian performatives without developing them; what typology of representational purposes would a serious taxonomy produce?