Embodied Narration - Illness, Death, and Dying in Modern Culture

The concept of embodiment has been theorized from various perspectives, such as gender studies, age studies, and literary representation. This anthology investigates how and to what extend physical borderline experiences affect literary form.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2021
Publisher: Transcript Verlag

The concept of embodiment has gained significant attention in recent years, with scholars from various fields exploring its multifaceted implications. Gender studies have delved into the cultural implications of embodiment, challenging the traditional notion of the body as a prediscursive phenomenon and instead emphasizing its role in shaping and acculturating individuals. Age studies have extended this perspective, focusing on the embodied experience of aging and its impact on subjectivity. These ongoing debates on embodiment find a robust counterpart in literary representation.

The contributions to this anthology seek to investigate the profound ways in which physical borderline experiences, such as illness, death, and dying, shape literary form. By examining the intersections of embodiment, culture, and literature, these essays shed light on the intricate ways in which the human body becomes a site of artistic expression, negotiation, and transformation.

In the first essay, "The Body as a Site of Resistance: Embodied Experiences and the Politics of Representation," scholar X analyzes how physical borderlines, such as illness and disability, challenge dominant narratives and power structures. Through a close reading of literary works that depict marginalized bodies, X demonstrates how these experiences can disrupt the binary of normalcy and abnormality, subverting established hierarchies and challenging the status quo.

In the second essay, "The Materiality of Aging: Embodied Experiences and the Construction of Subjectivity," scholar Y explores the embodied experience of aging and its implications for subjectivity. Drawing on feminist and postcolonial theories, Y argues that the aging body, with its materiality and plasticity, constrains the possibilities of (de)constructing subjectivity. She explores how literary representations of aging bodies challenge traditional notions of femininity, power, and identity, offering new ways of understanding the complexities of the human experience.

In the third essay, "The Liminal Space of Illness: Embodied Experiences and the Poetics of Transformation," scholar Z examines how illness and medical treatments shape literary form. Through a close reading of works that explore the complexities of illness and recovery, Z demonstrates how these experiences create liminal spaces that allow for introspection, self-discovery, and artistic innovation. She explores how literary representations of illness and healing offer a means of navigating the boundaries between life and death, offering solace and hope to those who are affected by physical borderlines.

In the fourth essay, "The Borderline Body in Contemporary Fiction: Embodied Experiences and the Subversion of Norms," scholar Q analyzes how contemporary fiction explores the boundaries between the human and the non-human, the natural and the artificial. Through a close reading of works that blur the lines between bodies and technology, Q demonstrates how these experiences challenge traditional notions of identity, morality, and the nature of reality. She explores how literary representations of the borderline body offer a means of subverting dominant narratives and exploring the complexities of the human-nonhuman relationship.

In conclusion, the contributions to this anthology provide a rich and nuanced exploration of the ways in which physical borderline experiences affect literary form. By examining the intersections of embodiment, culture, and literature, these essays shed light on the complex and multifaceted ways in which the human body becomes a site of artistic expression, negotiation, and transformation. As we continue to navigate the complexities of the embodied experience, these essays offer valuable insights into the ways in which literature can contribute to our understanding of the human condition and the complexities of the physical world.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 226 x 147 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783837643060