We necessarily live within, and experience our lives through, our bodies. Our un

We necessarily live within, and experience our lives through, our bodies. Our understandings are experientially personal, while situated in broader social context; there is an ongoing tension between active construction of meaning within the context of given understandings. To a significantly determinative extent, we can and do shape our bodies, how others understand our bodies, and the extent to which our bodies even matter in how we are understood by others; however, this is always done within broader socio-historical context.
Using each of the examples of identity, trauma, and intimacy, explain the extent to which an individual human being has the opportunity to exercise their agency to shape reality, recognizing how and where agency is subject to restrictions of physical and social context.
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Address the following in your argument:
Succinctly explain the perspective of mind-body dualism.
Succinctly explain embodiment theory.
What is the relationship between mind-body dualism and embodiment theory? (Hint: strong mastery of the tiny little lecture on embodiment will help you with this.)
What does it mean to say that the body is a conduit through which culture is displayed and reproduced?
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7-8 double-spaced pages (not including bibliography)
20% of grade (20 points)
This is an essay. Argue a point (your thesis).
Your paper must have a thesis in bold print, as well as an introduction and a conclusion.
Your thesis is the point you are arguing; what are you trying to prove in your paper?
A thesis is typically only 1 sentence long. Some need 2 sentences to convey their thesis, but the norm is 1 sentence.
Your entire introductory paragraph is NOT your thesis.
While drawing from and building upon course materials and themes, your essay should argue your own original point.
Your thesis will be assessed on these criteria: meaning, importance, integrity, interest, originality/creativity (=uniquely your perspective), coherence, clarity, precision, having a point
Properly reference (in-text and in the bibliography) every piece of material you use, including video lectures.
Use quotes, page numbers, in-text references, and a bibliography in APA style (only the bibliography needs to be in APA style, not the entire essay).
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Use ONLY the below materials to support your argument, with special focus on those which are bolded.
We are not looking for use of a specific NUMBER of sources, but do require deep and extensive use of course materials, in order to see that you are mastering what the course is teaching.
Le Breton, D. (2014). From Disfigurement to Facial Transplant: Identity Insights. Body & Society Vol. 21(4): 3-23.
Negrin, L. (2002). Cosmetic Surgery and the Eclipse of Identity. Body & Society Vol. 8(4): 21-42.
Van der Kolk, B. (2014). Prologue + chapters 1-3. The Body Keeps the Score. Penguin Books.
Bishop, K. (2015). Body Modification and Trans Men: The Lived Realities of Gender Transition and Partner Intimacy. Body & Society Vol. 22(1): 62-91.
Newman, D. M. (2019). Building Identity: Socialization. Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life (Brief Edition/4th Edition) (63-78). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publishers.
Video: Personal Identity: Crash Course Philosophy #19, CrashCourse. (8:32)
Video : ORLAN, Omniprésence, 1993. Extrait (2:36)
Video: French artist Orlan: ‘Narcissism is important’ (6:51)
Video: Embodiment: Concepts in Anthropology (9:50) (Watch to 7:35)
Video: Your body language may shape who you are | Amy Cuddy, TED (21:02)
Video: What Is Trauma? (7:49)
Cox, A. (2023). We Are Not Just Polarized. We Are Traumatized. The Atlantic.
O’Grady, S. & Khudov, K. (10/14/2023). After facing death, injured Ukrainian soldiers relearn intimacy. The Washington Post.
Game, A. (2001). Riding: Embodying the Centaur. Body & Society Vol. 7(4): 1-12.
Video lectures for Weeks 2, 3, and 4.