Zone 4

Více o knize

The forty-eight essays and photographic dossiers in these three volumes explore the history of the human body as a site where life and thought converge. They illustrate how various cultures have intertwined physical abilities and mental processes to shape bodies that align with moral beliefs or social contexts—be it the body of a charismatic leader, a visionary monk, or a representation of the world or spirit. Each volume presents a distinct perspective. The first part examines the relationship between the human body and the divine, the animalistic, and machines that mimic it. The second part investigates the boundaries between the body's exterior and interior, focusing on the manifestations of the soul, emotional expression, and the reflections on cenesthesia, pain, and death. The third part addresses the classical dichotomy of organ and function, revealing how bodily organs or substances can justify or contest societal structures, while also showing how political and social roles transform individuals into components of a larger social body or the universe. Notable contributors include Mark Elvin, Catherine Gallagher, Françoise Héritier-Augé, Julia Kristeva, and others, enriching the discourse on the human body across cultures and epochs.