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Posthuman Capitalism

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One of the recurring ideas put forward in Braidotti's The Posthuman is that of "the commodification of living organisms" (Braidotti, 8), where she explores how capitalism and becoming-animal ideals must always be at odds. The predominant focus of the commodification that Braidotti looks at occurs in the field of bio-ethics under the 'becoming-animal' umbrella that asserts that animals and humans must be put on an equal level. The post-anthropocentric understanding of animal rights and the focus on Zoe being used as an 'equalizer' of sorts builds up an argument against the commodification of animal products, treatments, and even their identities (as we see with zoos, backyard breeding for pets, or even the White House's annual pardoning of a turkey). Braidotti makes clear that capitalism and bio-ethics cannot coexist, but can posthumanism and capitalism ever see eye to eye?

I would assert that no, capitalism and posthumanism can never coexist comfortably. The problem, for me, lies in the complicated relationship between posthuman ideologies and globalism. Globalism is a key component of capitalism and it is through world access that companies are able to exploit resources, amass wealth, and access a plethora of markets in order to optimize profit. WIth globalization a small crocheter can take their works beyond the local christmas markets and onto an online retail market with a platform like Etsy and become a crochet empire. Fantastic, until an empire breeds corruption, the wool starts to come from unethical sheep farms, the labour costs have to be lowered, and the website conglomerate takes a substantial cut of profits. This is where human and animal bodies become commodities, global access forms more concrete hierarchies, and posthuman ethics and ideologies are left in the dust. 

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