Bodies: A Digital Companion Main Menu Why the Body? an introduction to the digital companion Embodiment key concept Cultural Norm key concept Bodily Difference key concept Stigma key concept Intersectionality key concept Body Image Dr. Kristin Novotny, Professor COR 240-04/05 Spectral and Invisible Bodies Dr. Veruska Cantelli, Assistant Professor Visibility / Invisibility / Hypervisibility Alice Neiley, Adjunct Professor Radical Awakening Faith Yacubian, Assistant Professor Paleo Erik Shonstrom, Assistant Professor Borderlands Dr. Patricia DeRocher Walking Dr. Katheryn Wright, Associate Professor (COR-240-03) The Posthuman Dr. Katheryn Wright, Associate Professor Methodologies This page contains links to short explanations of the different methodologies used to understand bodies and embodiment. The Body Project overview of the common assignment Acknowledgements a list of contributors to 'Bodies: A Digital Companion'

The Posthuman: Introduction and Contents

14957 The Body Project overview of the common assignment

"The cyborg is our ontology; it gives us our politics." - Donna Haraway, "The Cyborg Manifesto"

Who is posthuman? Where does posthumanism come from? What are the politics of the posthuman? And, how does posthumanism connect to race, gender, class, and ability? Following this line of questioning, Dr. Wright's focus section on "Bodies: The Posthuman" will examine the significance of posthuman bodies in popular culture. We will also address the connection between the posthuman and key concepts central to understanding the body: mind-body dualism, embodiment, intersectionality, physical difference, cultural norm, and stigma.

At its most general, posthumanism challenges body boundaries that are often taken for granted in the Western tradition. First, our class will examine the boundary between the body and technology. We will read about, analyze, and make our own versions of the cyborg. Second is the boundary between human and nonhuman bodies. Here, we will focus in on the intersection between disability studies and animal rights. Third, the boundary between bodies and their environments take center stage. After a brief introduction to actor-network theory, we will read a philosophical essay about the anthropcene. In the second half of the semester will apply our discussions of these body boundaries to the study of afrofuturism, necropolitics, and algorithmic culture.

A significant portion of "Bodies: The Posthuman" (click on link to access the syllabus on Google Docs) will be watching/reading examples of the posthuman in popular culture and discussing them using a roundtable format. We will be watching Ex Machina, an episode of Stranger Things, and The Girl With All the Gifts. We will be reading Alan Moore's graphic novel Saga of the Swamp Thing and Octavia Butler's first book in the classic Xenogenesis sci-fi series, Dawn. The remainder of your required readings/screenings are available as content links to this page. Check out the syllabus for specific due dates.

This page has paths:

  1. The Posthuman Katheryn Wright

Contents of this path:

  1. Why the Body?
  2. N. Katherine Hayles, How We Became Posthuman (1999)
  3. Embodiment
  4. Intersectionality
  5. Donna Haraway, "A Cyborg Manifesto" (1984)
  6. Bodily Difference
  7. Cultural Norm
  8. Stigma
  9. Bruno Latour, "Agency at the Time of the Anthropocene" (2014)
  10. Alan Moore, 'Saga of the Swamp Thing'
  11. Andre-Naquian Wheeler, "Why Afrofuturism is the Art Movement We Need in 2017" (2017)
  12. Michel Foucault, "Docile Bodies" in The Foucault Reader (1991)
  13. Ted Striphas, "Algorithmic Culture" (2015)

Contents of this tag:

  1. The Body Project
  2. Ana Mendieta, "Earth Work 2" (1976)
  3. Octavia Butler: Science Future, Science Fiction
  4. Exploring Sun Ra's Afrofuturism - DUST Afrofuturism Ep. 1
  5. Methodologies
  6. Rachel Jones, "Art Review: 'Interpose,' New City Galerie" (2017)
  7. Joan Slonczewski, "Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis Trilogy: A Biologist’s Response" (2000)

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