textbook performative virtue signaling

[GoodTaste]

Does "it's textbook performative virtue signaling" mean "it's the action of carrying out textbook/standard performative virtue/ability"?

=================
The actual actions that yield successful lib-ownage vary.


“The funny thing about owning the libs is that it’s textbook performative virtue signaling, from people who say they hate that,” Monahan says.

Source: RollingStone

 

[Skrej]

No. Lookup 'virtue signaling', not just 'virtue'.

 

[GoodTaste]

Got it:

virtue signaling
the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.

 

[GoodTaste]

OK now. Why is "performative" is used in the phrase "textbook performative virtue signaling"? Is it sarcastic in the context of the OP? Is it a gesture of showing off?

 

[GoesStation]

Why is "performative" [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] used in the phrase "textbook performative virtue signaling"? Is it sarcastic in the context of the OP? Is it a gesture of showing off?

Don't read more into the text than the words say.

"Performative" is a popular word among young academics and students. In many cases, it means nothing more than "this is an extra adjective that makes this sentence look weightier".