Identity in E-Lit Main Menu Introduction "Pieces of Herself" The first work of E-Lit with a theme of identity that we are showcasing is "Pieces of Herself" by Juliet Davis. The author of this path is Colin Crago. "Fitting the Pattern" The second identity-themed E-Lit work is "Fitting the Pattern" by Christine Wilks. The author of this path is Kalan Hurdle. "My Body - a Wunderkammer" The third E-lit work that has a theme of identity is “My Body - a Wunderkammer” by Shelly Jackson. Jackson embodies this theme through exemplifying the relationship a woman has with her body and how it adds to her identity. The author of this path is Freddie Sanabria About the Authors Works Cited

"my body - a wunderkammer" Summary

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“My body - a wunderkammer” by Shelley Jackson is a unique narrative of the author’s relationship with her body and how each body part plays a role in her identity from adolescence to adulthood. At first glance, you are presented with a drawing of a woman’s naked body who is holding a writing utensil and a piece of paper. On the drawing, there are a variety of squares and rectangles highlighting various parts of her body and body features, with each box labeled with the accompanying body feature such as “tattoos”, “breasts”, “skin” and “leg hair”. The player is given no instructions on how they can interact with the piece, the only hint being the cursor changing into a hand, signaling that there is a link there.

Through investigation, the player can then click on any of the twenty-one highlighted body parts where they are then taken to a different page which describes a story pertaining to that body part. If the player keeps looking, they will notice that there are some body parts that are labeled but that aren’t highlighted, such as “butt” and “tail”. There are some words like “butt” and “tail” that will take you to a “hidden” story about that body part, while there are others that once clicked on simply take you to the same page you are currently on. It seems as though every part of the woman’s body is labeled or highlighted except for her facial features, but if the player is curious enough to click on the forehead, ears, eyes, eyebrows, and mouth, they will discover the most hidden stories.

Jackson makes sure to describe the body parts that others sexualize of women, with intricate detail to desexualize her “feminine” features. Such descriptions include “my hips are narrow and hard like a boy’s” and “I left my leg hair unshaved all through high school. It was thick and sun-bleached…” (Jackson). By specifically including “unfeminine” details to typically “feminine” body parts, it can be seen that Jackson’s intentions are to steer the player’s mind away from the identity that society places on a woman’s body.