Interpretations of Aristotelian Catharsis in respect of Facebook Status Updates

Abstract

Aristotle’s concept of catharsis has been subjected to various interpretations over the years and the debates with respect to it are still an ongoing process. Catharsis and its interpretations have found their way not only into drama, literature, religion and films but also social media. This paper concerns itself with the ways in which the theory of Aristotelian catharsis and its various interpretations can be applied to Facebook status updates. The paper will attempt to analyze status updates on Facebook as texts that yield themselves to approaches to the study of the various interpretations of Aristotelian catharsis.