Reference no: EM133746151
Essay: Interpreting Human Bodies
A simple understanding of a living body is the physical structure of a person or an animal, including the bones, flesh, and organs. In the session on Human Bodies, we explored the historical ways in which human bodies were looked at or worked upon. Later, we moved to exploring the human body as a site of meaning-making.
The sense of uniqueness of one's body develops since one's childhood. Further, becoming aware of it as not just clinical mass but something that holds meaning. The body generates or takes on different meanings as the contexts of reading it change. These range from very personal and intimate experiences to those that can be largely generalized. Some range from the intersections of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, cultural appropriations, and other facets of identity in a multicultural society. Some address the silent abuse. Some take on the notions of gender, sexuality, and social stereotypes. In extreme cases, the body becomes a space or an icon of enduring in larger political narratives. Reflect on a specific issue or aspect of the body as a site of meaning-making that resonates with you.
These could be directly related to or expressed in -
• your professional work - any ongoing project or an idea you want to work on,
• personal experiences,
• specific events of global concern,
• issues that are widely known - you could provide your perspective on them,
• your essay could critically evaluate the works of an artist, designer, performer, or any creative work building relevance to the essay.