Theme:
5. Theories and methods in archaeology: interactions between disciplines
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
CANCELLED Beyond the Body: Trans-Humanist Reflections on (Dis)Ability in the Past
Content:
Despite the perpetual growth of technology and its deep connections to the development of human civilization, trans-humanist theory has been relatively underrepresented in the archaeological discourse. Trans-humanism seeks, specifically, to study how human limitations are enhanced by technological aids, aiming to surpass anthropocentric worldviews in past and present life. This session seeks to engage discussion on humans’ constant need for additional resources, natural or artificial, in life and thus how humans and technological aids successively merge together. The aim is, in this manner, to draw attention to archaeological evidence for technological extensions of the body covering any time period and geographic location. Themes may cover past and future theoretical forms and the entanglement of the body and devices, such as cyborgs. Submission of papers that make use of historical documentation, theory, osteological evidence, archaeological artifacts and other methods to discuss the liminal periods of disability, the healing of impairment, corporal punishment and biological aging are most welcome.
Keywords:
Posthumanism, Transhumanism, Disability, Cyborgs, Bioarchaeology, Entanglement
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Steinunn Kristjansdottir (Iceland) 1
Co-organisers:
Joe Walser III (Iceland) 2,1
Tina Jakob (United Kingdom) 3
Elin Ahlin Sundman (Sweden) 4,1
Affiliations:
1. University of Iceland
2. National Museum of Iceland
3. Durham University
4. The Swedish History Museum
THIS SESSION CAN NOT BE SELECTED AT THIS MOMENT