"Cutting Desire", Blog Post Info, and Paper Prompts

Hi all,

Here's the article you need to read for class--Jesse Ellison discusses the phenomenon known as BIID (Body Integrity Identity Disorder). Please make sure you take some notes on what you find compelling/confusing about this piece--it'll go a long way towards helping you compose a mandatory blog post on the article.

The reading:

Jesse Ellison: "Cutting Desire"

BLOG INSTRUCTIONS: You must post your blog by 11:59pm on 2/29. Your post should be at least 500 words long. Here are some leading questions to get you started: What form of treatment would you propose for people with BIID? What do you make of the article's assertion that most people with BIID seem to be middle-class white men? How do you react to the thought of someone "choosing" to be "disabled?" Please mention specific sections from the piece in your discussion, and feel free to record your own thoughts and reactions to the piece.

Additionally, here are the paper prompts for your second paper. You need to pick only one.

During our exploration of body modification, we’ll touch on some extremely different behaviors and activities. Scarification, tattoos, and piercings communicate both estrangement and alignment with social norms, simultaneously signaling one’s status as a societal “outcast” and as a member of a particular community. In this age of ubiquitous media and technology, “bodyhacking” can involve increasing or “improving” the abilities of the human body while also rendering the human body as something other than human, but not quite mechanical or technological. We’ve also discussed the possibility that  plastic surgery, diet, and exercise are forms of bodily modification that American popular culture encourages and endorses. You have 2 options for this paper.

OPTION 1:

 Body Modification Narrative

In a well-constructed essay of 3-5 pages, describe and analyze a form of a body modification that you have experienced or undertaken. Explain why this behavior could be classified as body modification. Using information from our class readings, feel free to address any of the following questions:

• how does your own modification signal rejection or adherence to social norms?

• Is your example a continuous behavior/result, or a singular event?

• Do you undertake this modification in public or in private, and what are your reasons for doing so?

• How has your example modified your interactions with the world around you?

• How has it changed your relationships with family, friends, school, employment, etc.

OPTION 2:

Body Modification Analysis

In a well constructed essay of 3-5 pages,  you must research, describe and analyze a form of body modification, and illustrate that form's relationship to both individual expression AND societal pressure. Using original research and class readings, feel free to explore the following questions:

• provide background on this form's cultural history/significance: how has its meaning shifted over time?

• does stigma, discrimination, or prejudice surround this form of body modification? If so, what does that look like? If there is very little stigma, why do you think this form of body modification is socially acceptable?

• is there a particular population demographic for whom this form of body modification is common or popular? Why do you think this is the case?

You must use a minimum of three secondary sources for either paper option. If you choose the second option, you MUST find at least TWO sources on your own. You can look for a journal article online/through the library database, reference a film, advertisement, work of fiction, etc. to illuminate your argument. You must use 12 point font, reasonable margins, and conform to MLA standards for quoting, citation, and bibliography.

ROUGH DRAFT: 3/3

FINAL DRAFT: 3/10

See you then,

Greenlee

Bodyhacking, Wetware, Cyborgs, etc.: Reading for Thursday

Hey all,

Here's the link for the article you need to read for Thursday:

Ben Popper: "Cyborg America: Basement Body Hackers"

As you read and take notes on this essay, keep a few things/questions in mind--what is the aim/goal of bodyhacking? What are its advantages or disadvantages? Does it expand the definition of what it is to be human, or does it present the possibility of moving beyond humanness, and how?

See you Thursday,

Greenlee

Reading Assignment and Final Touches--Cleaning up your paper before you hand it in

Hi all,

The final draft of your first paper is due on Tuesday: you have until 11:59PM on Tuesday to email it to me.

Since we're back in class on Tuesday, you're also responsible for the following readings (short, but interesting):

This piece by Katya Soldak for Forbes:

Barbie Flu Spreading in Ukraine

This Article by Maureen O'Connor:

Is Race Plastic?

Since the final draft of your first paper is due on Tuesday, here are some quick pointers on what to pay attention to before you hand it in.

• Does your introduction contain a thesis? Is it clear how your chosen examples will prove useful?

• When you introduce a source in a body paragraph, do you provide the author's name and the title of the source in a sentence?

• Are you providing direct quotes from your sources to support your overall discussion?

• When you provide a direct quote, are you using strong signal phrases, like "He writes" or "She argues"?

• How are you connecting one source to the next in your body paragraphs? Are you moving from similarity to similarity? Are you highlighting differences?

• Parenthetical citations in the body of your paper should be in MLA format--head to the Purdue OWL for assistance: MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

• Your Works Cited Page should also be in MLA format.

Remember to give your final draft a good once-over, and I'll see you Tuesday.

Greenlee

PEER REVIEW INSTRUCTIONS

Hi all,

I'm finally feeling better--my apologies.

I still want you all to benefit from a peer review--so in order to make up class time, you'll be completing an online peer review exercise on your blogs this week. YOU HAVE UNTIL FRIDAY, 2/19, to complete this exercise.

I've compiled the following peer trios.

Tyler, Adam, James

Alana C., Dakotah, Chaimaa

Edmund, Cassie, Mark

Paata, Joann, Alana M.

Fawzi, Khadija, Nick

Briana, Lily, Tiffany

Jess, Malkijah, Shivani

Each of you will post your rough drafts on your blog, and it will be the job of your peer partners to comment on your draft, in the form of a blog comment.

When you're commenting on your peer partners' drafts, please provide complete answers to the following questions:

1) Locate what you believe to be the author’s thesis statement. Rewrite it in your own words.

2) Why does this thesis either fail to or succeed at making a debatable assertion? Why is it interesting? What could the author do to improve?

3) How does the paper talk about the topic brought up in the thesis? How does the argument develop throughout the paper?  What does each paragraph add to the argument? What could the author do to improve?

4) Think back to the author’s thesis statement as you read the paper’s conclusion—in what ways do you think the author has refined/stated their thesis throughout the paper? Are you convinced? Provide ONE potential (constructive) point of criticism—what would you want to see more of, or add?

Additionally, I've invited you all to a Google Doc where you can sign up for your conference times for this week. Remember, if you fail to meet with me, that'll be counted as a week's absence.

Please complete these peer reviews, and I'll see you at your conference.

--Greenlee

For Tuesday: Readings on Oscar Pistorius

Hi all,

Please read the following articles for Tuesday. Each of these articles concerns Oscar Pistorius' arrest for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Each piece is concerned with the extent to which Pistorius' disability influences how we discuss him, both in terms of his career persona and his crime.

Kevin Sullivan: "South African Paralympian Pistorius faces murder charges in shooting of girlfriend"

s.e. smith: "The Curious Case of Reeva Steenkamp's Boyfriend"

And bring the following to class:

-type up, or write down, 2 or 3 quotes from either piece that you think emphasize or complicate the arc of the piece. Feel free to write up discussion questions instead of quotes, if that suits you.


See you then,

Greenlee

H. Cassils' "Cuts: A Traditional Sculpture," and Your First Paper Prompt

Hi all,

For Thursday, please read the article and watch the video by H. Cassils, entitled "Cuts: A Traditional Sculpture." You can access both the article and the video here:

H. Cassils: "Cuts: A Traditional Sculpture"

As always, it will be very helpful if you take notes on the particulars/points of gravity for these pieces.

I've put the description for the first paper below, so you'll always have a way to access it.

FIRST PAPER PROMPT

So far, we’ve been concentrating on portrayals and illustrations of “health” and “perfection” that allow us to question how these states are defined: Patrick Bateman and Raymond H. of “Hard Bodies” use routine workouts and wealth to project a social persona; Roxanne Edwards uses steroids and bodybuilding to achieve a “peeled” physique; through weightlifting, Kathy Acker is able to control the “failure” of her muscles to both create strength, and remain aware of her body as something which will inevitably end; and for H. Cassils, achieving a body that cannot be clearly categorized as either male or female is the objective. Do these bodies challenge the notion of "health"? Or do these bodies align with the notion of "health"? IN WHAT WAYS?

Pick AT LEAST TWO examples of excessive bodies that we've talked/read about so far.

Here are some questions to consider and discuss as you make your decision: 
What factors are most important in clearly defining the state of "health"? Is there a form of "health" that applies to everyone?

What reasons do these people give for working their bodies?

What is the relationship between a spectator (i.e., you) who looks at images of these people, and the people themselves?

Do these people's activities have private (individual only to them) repercussions, or public (affecting a wider social audience) repercussions?

Available sources:

American Psycho- Mary Herron, dir. Christian Bale, performer

"Hard Bodies"-Stuart Ewen
"Against Ordinary Language: The Language of the Body" by Kathy Acker

"Roxanne Edwards is Superhuman"- Roxanne Edwards, S. Adrian Massey (interviewer)

"Cuts: A Traditional Sculpture"-Heather Cassils

"Bodybuilding"- Brian Finke (access that HERE)

Your paper should be 3-5 pages, in 12 pt font, using MLA citation.

ROUGH DRAFT DUE Thursday, 2/11

FINAL DRAFT DUE Tuesday, 2/23

Any questions, email me.

See you Thursday,

Greenlee