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Consuming the Body: Capitalism, Social Media and Commodification by Dawn Woolley at Abbey's Bookshop,
Consuming the Body: Capitalism, Social Media and Commodification
— —
Dawn Woolley

Consuming the Body

Capitalism, Social Media and Commodification

Dawn Woolley

$180

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
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English
Bloomsbury Visual Arts
06 October 2022
Human figures depicted in art; Industrial: Commercial Art & Design; Media studies
Consuming the Body examines contemporary consumerism and the commodified construction of ideal gendered bodies, paying particular attention to the new forms of interaction produced by social networking sites. Describing the behaviours of an ideal neoliberal subject, Woolley identifies modes of discipline, forms of pleasure, and opportunities for subversion in an examination of how individuals are addressed and the ways in which they are expected to respond. Key modes of address that compel the consumer to consume are: sadistic commands communicated in adverts, TV programmes and magazine articles; a fetishistic gaze that dissects the body into parts to be improved through commodification; and a hystericized insistent presence that compels the consumer to present their body for critique and appreciation that is exemplified in the selfie.

Woolley interprets the visual characteristics of different types of selfies, including #fitspiration, #thinspiration, #fatspiration, and #bodypositivity to understand how they relate to current body ideals. Healthism and culture bound illnesses such as hysteria and eating disorders are examined to demonstrate the impact of commodified body ideals on consumers’ bodies. An analysis of thinspiration images (photographs of emaciated bodies shared on pro-eating-disorder blogs and websites) suggests that the anorexic body represents the logical (and fatal) end point for the idealised body in consumer culture. Fat acceptance selfies suggest there is a fourth mode of address, empowering presence that has the potential to liberate consumers from the ‘trap of visibleness’ produced by the other three modes of address. In conclusion, the book identifies some creative methods for producing selfies that evade commoditisation and discipline.
By:  
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Visual Arts
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 234mm,  Width: 156mm, 
ISBN:   9781350225299
ISBN 10:   1350225290
Pages:   240
Publication Date:  
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Sadistic Commands 2 The Fetishistic Gaze 3 Hystericized Insistent Presence 4 Self(ie) Discipline 5 The Hysteria Economy 6 The Clinical Fetishistic Gaze 7 Anti-Consumers and the Fetishistic Gaze 8 The Bulimic Economy 9 Empowering Presence Conclusion Bibliography Glossary Index

Dawn Woolley is an artist and research fellow at Leeds Arts University examining consumer culture, social media, and gender. She completed an MA in Photography (2008) and PhD by project in Fine Art (2017) at the Royal College of Art. Her artwork is a feminist critique of consumer culture, encompassing photography, video, installation, and performance to draw attention issues of sexualisation, objectification, and idealisation. Recent solo exhibitions include; ‘Consumed: Stilled Lives’, Perth Centre for Photography, Australia (2021) and ‘Dance for Good & Exercise Your Rights’ in collaboration with Davin Watne, Public Space One gallery, Iowa City (2020).

Reviews for Consuming the Body: Capitalism, Social Media and Commodification

A brilliant analysis of consumerism exposing how we are manipulated by capitalism seeking to turn our subjectivity into an object for corporate profit. By drilling into the shiny surface of corporate deceit Consuming the Body uncovers ways to resist the deceptions foisted on us. * Peter Kennard, Professor of Political Art, Royal College of Art, UK *


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