Thinking the Body: Transforming Body Image in Communities

Student Name
Kate Gardner Walford
Student Email
Supervised by
Dr. Amy Peloff

This group will explore the discourses and theory that have and continue to construct how we view bodies today. The focus will be on the issue of body image and dissatisfaction in relation to communities: How does this affect our society as a whole, beyond just the individual? What can we do to change our collective body image? Explore how theory can be used to create positive transformation in our communities.

 Learning Objectives:

1. Gain a greater understanding of the constructed lens through which we view bodies in our society.

2. Discuss and explore how these discourses affect our communities and collectively brainstorm how to implement effective change.

Texts:

Aldersey-Williams, Hugh: Anatomies: A Cultural History of the Human Body (Book, 2013).

 Atkinson, Tiffany: The Body: Readers in Cultural Criticism, Introduction (Book, 2005).

 Boston Women’s Health Book Collective: Our Bodies, Ourselves (Book, 2011), and blog: http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/

 Bray, Abigail: The Anorexic Body: Reading Disorders (Article, 2005)

 Latour, Bruno: Networks, Societies, Spheres: Reflections of an Actor-Network Theorist (Keynote Address, 2010).

 Newsom, Jennifer: Miss Representation (Film, 2011).

 Russell, Cameron: Image is Powerful (TEDxTalk, 2012)

Academic Term
Winter 2013