Opening Up Space: A Lovely Technofeminist Opportunity

The Body as a Contact Zone

Traditionally in captive narratives, such as that which was popularly written by James Riley, the subject's body endures physical transfigurations, including darkening of the skin, and thus marks a physical contact zone between cultures and identity. In Riley's narrative, the tribulations he endures enable him to contemplate skin color as an unstable identity trait and entertain the idea that "physical characteristics might not be a reliable indicator of 'aptitude,' so to speak, for enslavement or entitlement or citizenship" (Wolfe 16). Bradley, on the other hand, having endured no physical contact, argues that her steadfast faith in God kept her from suffering this very intersection and subsequent realization.

Contents of this annotation:

This page has tags:

Contents of this tag: