Postmodern bodies: Postmodern bodies: Consumption, Body Consumption, Body modification and self modification and self

identity.identity.

Lecture EightLecture Eight

Inscribing the BodyInscribing the Body Scarification- a social process whereby human bodies are Scarification- a social process whereby human bodies are

inscribed marked or painted. inscribed marked or painted. Examples-make-up, foot binding, shaving, tattooing, Examples-make-up, foot binding, shaving, tattooing,

piercing piercing Almost universal tendency for humans to 'mark' their Almost universal tendency for humans to 'mark' their

bodies. bodies. Even clothing has deep symbolic significance. Even clothing has deep symbolic significance. Marking body says something about who we are and our Marking body says something about who we are and our

social roles. social roles. Affects ‘outside’ and ‘inside’ of body.Affects ‘outside’ and ‘inside’ of body. Socialisation and enculturation - processes of scarification.Socialisation and enculturation - processes of scarification. We are coded or inscribed with culture and identity by We are coded or inscribed with culture and identity by

social processes. social processes.

Muscle, Utopian Bodies and Muscle, Utopian Bodies and Body Projects.Body Projects.

Perfection of the body central in contemporary culture.Perfection of the body central in contemporary culture. Body building, liposuction, breast implants, face-lifts, nose Body building, liposuction, breast implants, face-lifts, nose

jobsjobs Cultural processes lead to modification of a biological body. Cultural processes lead to modification of a biological body. Connell (1983) - 'transcendence' - describes how culture Connell (1983) - 'transcendence' - describes how culture

can modify a biological body.can modify a biological body. A means of resistance?A means of resistance? Samuel FussellSamuel Fussell (1991) (1991) Muscle: Confessions of an Unlikely Muscle: Confessions of an Unlikely

BodybuilderBodybuilder.. Quest to build the utopian body. Quest to build the utopian body. A postmodern art formA postmodern art form An exagerrated form of hypermasculinity.An exagerrated form of hypermasculinity.

The modification of a ‘natural’ The modification of a ‘natural’ body.body.

Does augmentation of the body have a biological Does augmentation of the body have a biological basis? basis?

Augmentation for sexual display?Augmentation for sexual display? Looking good feeling bad?Looking good feeling bad? Manipulations of the biological body reflect Manipulations of the biological body reflect

commitments to ideals of youth and beauty that commitments to ideals of youth and beauty that cross lines of gender.cross lines of gender.

‘‘Natural’ body is as a malleable substanceNatural’ body is as a malleable substance Perfecting body an attempt to resolve or avoid Perfecting body an attempt to resolve or avoid

problems of own identity and purpose (Fussell problems of own identity and purpose (Fussell 1991).1991).

Internally distressed but externally perfect.Internally distressed but externally perfect.

The Anorexic Body – The Anorexic Body – postmodern illness?postmodern illness?

Susie Orbach (1993) -Susie Orbach (1993) -Anorexia describes Anorexia describes the condition of women who 'have become the condition of women who 'have become scared of food and what it can do to them' scared of food and what it can do to them' (1993).(1993).

Szasz (1974) 'Addiction, obesity and Szasz (1974) 'Addiction, obesity and anorexia are political problems, not anorexia are political problems, not psychiatric; each condenses and psychiatric; each condenses and expresses a contest between the expresses a contest between the individual and some other person or individual and some other person or persons in his environmnet' persons in his environmnet'

Taking Control Through Eating Taking Control Through Eating Disorders?Disorders?

Szasz- Individuals with overbearing, Szasz- Individuals with overbearing, over controlling parents are likely to over controlling parents are likely to develop eating disorders as a means develop eating disorders as a means of wrestling back control over their of wrestling back control over their bodies. bodies.

Starvation a means for acquiring Starvation a means for acquiring greater autonomy and selfhood.greater autonomy and selfhood.

BUT- mostly a disease of affluent, BUT- mostly a disease of affluent, western societies.western societies.

Background.Background. First noted in 1870's in US, France and Britain.First noted in 1870's in US, France and Britain. Explosion of eating disorders iusually dated to last four Explosion of eating disorders iusually dated to last four

decades of the 20th century. decades of the 20th century. In US that between 1-4% of US females in high school and In US that between 1-4% of US females in high school and

college suffer. college suffer. Competition between disposable incomes and choices and Competition between disposable incomes and choices and

a desire to keep the body slim. a desire to keep the body slim. Tension between food imagery and ethos of avoidance and Tension between food imagery and ethos of avoidance and

self control self control Susan Bordo - a link between eating disorders the Susan Bordo - a link between eating disorders the

incitement to consume.incitement to consume. A gendered phenomenon, 9 out of 10 sufferers are women. A gendered phenomenon, 9 out of 10 sufferers are women. Increasingly cross class phenomenon.Increasingly cross class phenomenon. Less prevalent among men and black womenLess prevalent among men and black women

Explanations.Explanations. Onset of sexual maturity- a rejection of emerging Onset of sexual maturity- a rejection of emerging

femaleness (Neuman 1983, Fraad 1990, Bruch)femaleness (Neuman 1983, Fraad 1990, Bruch) Appropriation of male body. (Oliver Bruch)Appropriation of male body. (Oliver Bruch) Paradox xelf control but also a form of self Paradox xelf control but also a form of self

loathing loathing A hatred hatred of the weak self. A hatred hatred of the weak self. Thinness is seen as symbolically signifying a well Thinness is seen as symbolically signifying a well

managed selfmanaged self Also purveys a message of a self out of control. Also purveys a message of a self out of control. Prevalence of images of 'ideal bodies' in the Prevalence of images of 'ideal bodies' in the

media.media.

Explanations2Explanations2

Question: Question: Why arent black women Why arent black women as susceptible? Why aren't men as as susceptible? Why aren't men as susceptible?susceptible?

Internalisation of a discourse of Internalisation of a discourse of bodily perfection. bodily perfection.

impact on how we see ourselves. impact on how we see ourselves.

Biological explanationsBiological explanations

A form of auto-addiction caused by a A form of auto-addiction caused by a reaction to brain opiates produced in reaction to brain opiates produced in the process of starvation.the process of starvation.

neurochemical changesneurochemical changes biological processes and biological processes and

modifications reinforce the trajectory modifications reinforce the trajectory

‘‘Faulty’ Bodies.Faulty’ Bodies. Re-cap.Re-cap. Cosmetic surgery, tattooing, piercing, etc imply a degree of Cosmetic surgery, tattooing, piercing, etc imply a degree of

choice with regard to bodily performances. choice with regard to bodily performances. Bodies can be produced by the individual and societyBodies can be produced by the individual and society Discourses inscribe the body with meaning.Discourses inscribe the body with meaning. Power, language and the body.Power, language and the body. Civilized or socialized body through the work of Norbert Civilized or socialized body through the work of Norbert

Elias.Elias. Natural body? Natural body? Bodies both material and cultural things (Shilling) Bodies both material and cultural things (Shilling) Little in the analyses above about the experience of Little in the analyses above about the experience of beingbeing a a

body- the lived experience of embodiment. body- the lived experience of embodiment.

Being Bodies.Being Bodies. Experience of embodiment heightened when we undergo Experience of embodiment heightened when we undergo

some sort ‘deviation’ from the ‘norm’.some sort ‘deviation’ from the ‘norm’. Weight gain, accident, illness, question around gender Weight gain, accident, illness, question around gender

identity, disfigurement, impairment.identity, disfigurement, impairment. Society excludes those with bodily ‘differences’ Society excludes those with bodily ‘differences’ Emphasis on bodily perfection in contemporary culture.Emphasis on bodily perfection in contemporary culture. Bodies that do not conform considered to be ‘faulty’ bodiesBodies that do not conform considered to be ‘faulty’ bodies Faulty bodies hidden Faulty bodies hidden Susan Wendell, Judith Butler - disabled women in Western Susan Wendell, Judith Butler - disabled women in Western

societies face particular difficulties because bodily societies face particular difficulties because bodily perfection is so often equated with health and success. perfection is so often equated with health and success.

Bodies and DifferenceBodies and Difference Ideal unattainable for most womenIdeal unattainable for most women ‘‘Othering’ of ‘different’ bodies. Othering’ of ‘different’ bodies. Faulty bodies are ascribed or inscribed with difference both Faulty bodies are ascribed or inscribed with difference both

externally and internally. externally and internally. Eg. Disability is viewed negatively in Western culture. Eg. Disability is viewed negatively in Western culture. Few disabled bodies in the media. Few disabled bodies in the media. Disabled people doubly silenced Disabled people doubly silenced Stereotypical representations perpetuate "otherness" Stereotypical representations perpetuate "otherness" Jenny Morris -mainstream society -low expectations of disabled Jenny Morris -mainstream society -low expectations of disabled

men and women. men and women. Pressure on disabled people to conformPressure on disabled people to conform Individuals with disabilities may try to compensate for their Individuals with disabilities may try to compensate for their

disabilities by striving to look as close to the non-disabled "norm" disabilities by striving to look as close to the non-disabled "norm" as possible. as possible.

Some disabled girls and women may try to hide their bodies or Some disabled girls and women may try to hide their bodies or change how their bodies look. Manipulation of body through change how their bodies look. Manipulation of body through continuous dieting, plucking, shaving, cutting, and constricting. continuous dieting, plucking, shaving, cutting, and constricting.

Medicalising DisabilityMedicalising Disability

Mike Oliver -Parsons ‘Sick Role’ Theory.Mike Oliver -Parsons ‘Sick Role’ Theory. Disabled people Disabled people expectedexpected to cultivate to cultivate

dependency and vulnerability.dependency and vulnerability. Perceived in a state of perpetual illness. Perceived in a state of perpetual illness. Expected to assume the position of patientExpected to assume the position of patient Dependency upon medical experts. Dependency upon medical experts.

By adopting particular conceptions of By adopting particular conceptions of normality, people with disabilities are normality, people with disabilities are defined according to the criteria they do defined according to the criteria they do not meet, rather than those they do. They not meet, rather than those they do. They are defined in relation to what they are are defined in relation to what they are not. not.

‘‘In short, they are the product of the In short, they are the product of the `psychological imagination' constructed `psychological imagination' constructed upon a bedrock of `non-disabled' upon a bedrock of `non-disabled' assumptions of what it is like to assumptions of what it is like to experience impairment. The realisation of experience impairment. The realisation of impairment is presumed to involve some impairment is presumed to involve some form of loss or `personal tragedy'. form of loss or `personal tragedy'. Oliver Oliver (2002)(2002)

Medicalising DisabilityMedicalising Disability Sick role theory also significant because disabled Sick role theory also significant because disabled

people are perceived as being free from social people are perceived as being free from social obligations and responsibilities. obligations and responsibilities.

Deviance and disability?Deviance and disability? Disability indicates the intersection between the Disability indicates the intersection between the

material and the cultural bodymaterial and the cultural body Subjectivity of disabled people structured by Subjectivity of disabled people structured by

biological and social factors. biological and social factors. To suggest that the body is entirely socially To suggest that the body is entirely socially

constructed implies that we can escape from our constructed implies that we can escape from our bodies if we just change cultural attitudes and bodies if we just change cultural attitudes and behavioursbehaviours

The Cyborg BodyThe Cyborg Body

Donna Haraway - cyberneticDonna Haraway - cybernetic organismorganism A mixture of organic and mechanical parts A mixture of organic and mechanical parts A super-enhanced beingA super-enhanced being Technologies make us cyborgs. Technologies make us cyborgs. Pacemakers, clothing, contact lenses, Pacemakers, clothing, contact lenses,

contraceptive implants, voice recognition contraceptive implants, voice recognition software, prosthesis, metal limbs. software, prosthesis, metal limbs.

Cyborgian bodies- modern technologies- Cyborgian bodies- modern technologies- especially those that are inside the bodyespecially those that are inside the body

Nature, Cultureand Nature, Cultureand Cyborgianism.Cyborgianism.

Cyborg is a metaphor for exploring Cyborg is a metaphor for exploring ways of breaking down the ways of breaking down the nature/culture opposition.nature/culture opposition.

Dissolution of nature -culture borders Dissolution of nature -culture borders -new ways of acting politically. -new ways of acting politically.

Identity constructed, fluid, and Identity constructed, fluid, and fractured. fractured.

Cyborg ost-gender -an identity that Cyborg ost-gender -an identity that can be embraced by all. can be embraced by all.

Cyborgs ‘Otherness’ and Cyborgs ‘Otherness’ and ResistanceResistance

Cyborg identity is constructed. Cyborg identity is constructed. Cyborgs create themselves out of what is not other. Cyborgs create themselves out of what is not other. An ‘Oppositional identity’ An ‘Oppositional identity’ A framework for those who do not fit into the natural A framework for those who do not fit into the natural

categories of race, gender, class, physical perfection.categories of race, gender, class, physical perfection. Resistance of normalising discousesResistance of normalising discouses Construction of new categories of identityConstruction of new categories of identity Accepting partiality and contradictions Accepting partiality and contradictions Overturning of what has been defined as "natural" and Overturning of what has been defined as "natural" and

normal. normal. New order based on affinity. New order based on affinity. Cyborg identity about choices and attractions. Cyborg identity about choices and attractions.

Transgressing Boundaries.Transgressing Boundaries.

Transgression of boundaries and Transgression of boundaries and categories.categories.

Man/ animal, animal/ machine, Man/ animal, animal/ machine, physical/ non-physical, nature/ physical/ non-physical, nature/ culture. culture.

Pleasure in ‘confusion of boundaries’. Pleasure in ‘confusion of boundaries’. Technology an extension of our Technology an extension of our

bodies. bodies.

Freedom or control?Freedom or control?

Cyborg identity Janus faced (Wild Cyborg identity Janus faced (Wild 2003) 2003)

Human /machine subjectivity at once Human /machine subjectivity at once liberates us and controls us. liberates us and controls us.

Freedom from the limits of our Freedom from the limits of our bodies but new possibilities for bodies but new possibilities for control.control.