Corporeal Technologies: Modifying and Augmenting the Body (NeMLA 2024, Boston)
The intersection of technology and the human body has given rise to a myriad of possibilities that transform our perception of self, relationships, and the world around us. In this panel, we will delve into representations of corporeal technologies in French and francophone works and the impact on understandings of memory, body, environment, and lived experiences. Scholars specializing in French and francophone studies, comparative literature, cultural studies, medical/technological humanities and beyond are welcome to contribute to this interdisciplinary panel.
Potential themes and areas of investigation for this panel include, but are not limited to:
- Wearable Technologies in literature: How are wearable technologies depicted and interpreted in French/francophone literary works? What role do they play in shaping characters' identities, relationships, and more?
- Prosthetics and Assistive Technologies in narrative: How does Francophone literature portray the integration of prosthetics and assistive technologies into characters' lives, delving into the themes of empowerment, dependency, agency, and autonomy.
- Virtual and Augmented Reality Experiences: How are virtual and augmented reality are represented in culture and literature? How are they written? How do these technologies blur the boundaries between reality and imagination?
- Neuro-technologies and Subjective Realities: How do neuro-technologies influence characters' perceptions of their own consciousness and experiences?
- Memory Preservation in Digital Archives: How do these archives challenge or reinforce traditional notions of historical memory?
- Sensory Landscapes and Literary Creation: How do sensory experiences facilitated by corporeal technologies supplement the creative process? What new dimensions do these technologies add to the sensory experience?
- Biohacking and Identity Redefinition: What is role of biohacking and how does it redefine notions of the individual and the collective?
Abstracts of 250 words or less, in English or French, should be submitted through the NeMLA website by September 30, 2023.
Noran Mohamed