Digital Sculpture
When Blyn discusses how we have entered a posthuman era, I believe that she is trying to describe how humans have the capability to physically reinvent themselves through technology. In this posthuman era, humans have the ability to change their own characteristics, including the way that they look. An example of this would be Mullins who has become an architect of her own identity. As a handicapped woman, Mullins is given enhancements that allow her to walk again. Because of these enhancements and the beautiful clothing that she wears, she isn’t restrained to being thought of as handicapped. Rather she is “handi-capable.” As to Blyn’s suggestion that the posthuman era is marked by corporate domination, I would tend to agree. Seemingly, America is dominated by corporations that hold influence on all aspects of our lives. Not only do they hold influence over governmental functions, but they are also the facilitators of the great consumer culture that is America. I would say that humanity is facing a net loss by augmenting our bodies. While slight augmentations, such as prosthetics may be incredibly beneficial, bodily manipulation can get to a point where it is going too far. Plastic surgery is not entirely frowned upon now. What is to say that humans will not be altering the genes of their children in the future so that they will look better or so that they are more intelligent? At what point have we gone too far? When humans figure out how to efficiently manipulate genetics, they will have the ability to change whatever they want about the human figure.
