Adrenaline!

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Adrenaline is the feeling one gets when pushing the limits of the human mind and body. Do the stunts in this video represent the meaning of adrenaline? Can you classify the people in this video as any of the four categories of the rhetoric of the body; shape-shifters? superheroes? Cyborgs? Femme fetales??

What is the point of this video? Is there another message displayed in this video besides adrenaline? Is it trying to show people that if you believe in something and keep working hard at it, that one day you will accomplish it? Did the irony represented at the end of the video match the message that the director of the video was trying to convey?

Eye Tattoos

From an MSNBC documentary ("LockUp") about convicts serving life sentences, we see inmates physically alter their eyes, perhaps to generate a message of who they are. You'll notice that the prisoners refuse to reveal information about the procedure. It could be that the secretiveness gives them higher standing and more respect within their community. Given the fact that they're already in a rough environment, taking one extra painful step seems reasonable if it holds the potential to them advantages in the future. Since they haven't gone blind, what's the harm?

We invite you to analyze the possible motives behind their actions and elaborate on how you personally think it looks. Do you think artificially colored contact lenses (purely for cosmetic use), for example, are more reasonable than eye tattoos? Do you think the prisoners' actions should have an impact on their current sentences? Do not feel the need to confine yourselves to generalizations of femme fetales, cyborgs, or anything of the sort: merely use them if you think they support your analysis. We also invite you to challenge our statement if you disagree, and raise relevant controversial topics of your own. We look forward to your insight.

Lady Gaga Has Influnenced You

Lady Gaga is one of the most inspiration people, whether you like her or not. She unarguably embodies a femme fatale and as shown in the video she affects millions of people. People aspire to be her and they change their lives to embody her persona. She is a shape shifter because she changes appearance and she changes ideas. She's a superhero because she's inspiration to so many people and she also stands for important ideas and values. She is a wonderful role model, and while not so controversial i think she embodies everything that this class represents, like conveying messages and persuading people to act a certain way. We would love to hear whether or not people agree that Lady Gaga embodies all of these roles and whether or not you believe she has influenced you or affected your life at all.

Raytheon XOS 2 exoskeleton

In this video, Raytheon is showing off its new model prototype exoskeleton, the XOS 2. The exoskeleton allows the user to perform amazing feats, including lifting heavy objects repeatedly, punching through solid wood planks, and many other physically demanding tasks. The user gains strength and endurance far beyond their normal limits, and could definitely be considered a superhero, or at least superhuman. A user could also be called a cyborg, as they are more or less using the mechanical exoskeleton as a robotic extension of their own bodies. One of the most interesting facets of technology such as this is the multitude of applications in the real world. In addition to the planned military uses for the models made by Raytheon (they are a military contractor), similar exoskeletons are being developed by multiple companies for uses such as helping those with mobility disorders to walk. We may see technology like this become widespread in our lifetimes.

Designer Babise

Gender Is Between Your Ears

In today's society, one of the rising topics of debate is that of being transgender. This video is about Chaz Bono. Formerly Chastity Bono, he underwent a gender change and has recently emerged as being a man. When we look at Chaz, we do not see the aspect of cyborg as much, but the aspects of shape shifter, and depending on one's views, superhero come to mind. Upon watching this video, which themes from rhetoric of the body come to your minds? Even if you are personally against the idea of sex-changes, does the possibility of him being a superhero still come to mind since he is trying to promote support for such a controversial issue? Chaz talks about how he always felt like he was a boy. For him, making himself comfortable ended up making many people uncomfortable. Is it really our place to judge people for who they are, or who they wish to be? Will we ever be comfortable enough with diversity that people won't look at transgenders or people of different beliefs any different than they would you and me?

My Legs Gave Me Super Powers

Aimee Mullins is a perfect example of how the rhetoric of the body depends on the conversation we choose to have about it. Not only does Aimee exemplify all four categories we are looking at - shape shifter, cyborg, super hero AND femme fatale (if by femme fatale we mean dangerously beautiful and powerful), she also raises questions that challenge the way we think and talk about the body: What does a beautiful woman have to look like? What is a sexy body? What does it mean to be disabled? What is a prosthetic? I invite you to share your thoughts about any of these and/or other topics she raises. Also, to consider this - as much as Mullins does to advance the discussion about the body, are there limitations she leaves un-addressed?