Technological Bodies

The human body: a vessel of health, of life, of expression. Our bodies house systems of complex behaviors, chemical reactions, and intricate biology beyond human comprehension. Internal and external bodily systems allow us to not only survive, but also allow us to perceive the world in our own unique ways. We are stimulated by various external forces; by nature, by modern technological advancements, by other's physical forms. Modern society is full of increasingly unattainable societal expectations and rapidly changing technological advances that impact the ways we view and change ourselves, both physically and mentally. As the world continues to advance in terms of technology, marketing, and advertising, our physical perceptions of the world and one another have changed dramatically. As body image trends change over time, we see a relationship between body dissatisfaction, self-worth, diet, and body modification. Body modification, physically editing the body, can affect other's perceptions of us in context to beauty, societal role, and cultural background. Exploring the role of body image and modification in modern society brings to light the complications and hardships people face while experiencing challenges with body dysmorphia, fatphobia, and extreme societal expectations placed upon us by social media, advertising, and marketing.