Biohacking, Bodies and Do-It-Yourself: The Cultural Politics of Hacking Life Itself

Mirjam Grewe-Salfeld

book: Biohacking, Bodies and Do-It-Yourself

Open Access Published by transcript Verlag 2021

Biohacking, Bodies and Do-It-Yourself

The Cultural Politics of Hacking Life Itself

Mirjam Grewe-Salfeld

Volume 36 in the series American Culture Studies

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783839460047

Overview
Contents

About this book

From self-help books and nootropics, to self-tracking and home health tests, to the tinkering with technology and biological particles - biohacking brings biology, medicine, and the material foundation of life into the sphere of »do-it-yourself«. This trend has the potential to fundamentally change people's relationship with their bodies and biology but it also creates new cultural narratives of responsibility, authority, and differentiation. Covering a broad range of examples, this book explores practices and representations of biohacking in popular culture, discussing their ambiguous position between empowerment and requirement, promise and prescription.

Author / Editor information

Mirjam Grewe-Salfeld, born in 1991, is a researcher in literary- and cultural studies. She received her PhD from the Department of American Studies at Universität Potsdam. Her research interests include the cultural representation and history of medicine, body studies and biotechnology.

Topics

Frontmatter Open Access Download PDF	1
Contents Open Access Download PDF	5
Preface: Amidst a Global Pandemic Open Access Download PDF	7
PART I: INTRODUCTIONS
1 Introduction: Biotechnologies, Bodies and Biomakers Open Access Download PDF	17
2 Biology and Culture – an Overview of the Field Open Access Download PDF	33
PART II: BACKGROUND
3 The Promise of Small Things – The Cultural Presence of (Molecular) Biology Open Access Download PDF	75
4 With my Own two Hands – Tracing DIY from Individualism to Maker Culture Open Access Download PDF	97
PART III: ‘HACKING’ LIFE ITSELF
5 ‘Hacking’ Life Itself – In Pursuit of a Definition Open Access Download PDF	129
6 #iambulletproof – A Layperson’s Guide to Self-Enhancement Open Access Download PDF	137
7 A Pill for Every Ill – Drugs and Supplements Open Access Download PDF	155
8 Test Yourself – Making the Invisible Visible Open Access Download PDF	175
9 Homo Technologicus? – The Technological Self, Inside Out Open Access Download PDF	197
10 “The Human Need to Fiddle” – Tinkering with Technology Open Access Download PDF	217
PART IV: REFLECTIONS
11 Discussing DIY Open Access Download PDF	241
12 Conclusion: Between Politics and Promise Open Access Download PDF	281
Works Cited Open Access Download PDF	291

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: transcript Verlag
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 314
Keywords: Representation; Biology; Medicine; Biocultures; Biohacking; Biotechnology; Cultural Narratives; DIY; America; Body; Biopolitics; American Studies; Life Sciences; Cultural Studies

eBook

Published: November 27, 2021
ISBN: 9783839460047