Body Technologies in the Greco-Roman World: Technosma, gender and sex [Hardcover]

The volume introduces the notion of thetechnosoma(techno body) into discussions on the representations of the body in classical antiquity. It investigates up to what extent techno bodies destabilize or reaffirm cultural stereotypes by exploring their intersection with gender and sexuality, and with the categories of colour and race, speciesism, age, class, and education.A collection of papers that introduces the notion of thetechnosoma(techno body) into discussions on the representations of the body in classical antiquity. By applying the category of thetechnosomato the 'natural' body, this volume explicitly narrows down the discussion of the technical and the natural to the physiological body. In doing so, the present collection focuses on body technologies in the specific form of beautification and body enhancement techniques, as well as medical and surgical treatments. The volume elucidates two main points. Firstly, ancient techno bodies show that the categories of gender and sexuality are at the core of the intersection of the natural and the technical, and intersect with notions of race, age, speciesism, class and education, and dis/ability. Secondly, the collection argues that new body technologies have in fact a very ancient history that can help to address the challenges of contemporary technological innovation. To this end, the volume showcases the intersection of 'natural' bodies with technology, gender, sexuality and reproduction. On the one hand, techno bodies tend to align with normative ideas about gender, and sexuality. On the other hand, body modification and/or enhancement techniques work hand in hand with economic and political power and knowledge, thus they often produce techno bodies that are shaped according to individual needs, i.e. according to a certain lifestyle. Consequently, techno bodies threaten to alter traditional ideas of masculinity, femininity, male and female sexuality and beauty.Introduction
Maria Gerl³”