This class will be a compendium of different perspectives on prosthetic use and Cyborgism. We will:
· Gain a thorough understanding of what is meant by Disability Culture and where prosthetic users and Cyborgs fit within that culture
· Examine the inception and history of the prosthetics industry and look at where it is today
· Define what we mean by Cyborg, both as a medical classification and as a figure in popular movies, TV shows, video games, comics and literature
· Discuss the present day impact upon our culture of Cyborgism and speculate upon future effects as technology expands
· Discuss what is meant by the terms Body Integrity Identity Disorder, Post-humanism and Trans-humanism
· Speculate upon big questions, such as: Why is our culture so inundated with representations of Cyborgism? What need or desire is this addressing?
This class will be taught as a seminar-style course with limited lectures. Students will complete readings each week and post comments on the class blog so that we can spend most of our time in class discussing the readings and their implications.
This course is offered as part of the Minor in Disability Studies.