Undercover Education: Mice, Mimesis, and Parasites in the Teaching Machine

What happens to education when the potential it helps realizing in the individual works against the formal purposes of the curriculum? What happens when education becomes a vehicle for its own subversion? As a subject-forming state apparatus working on ideological speciesism, formal education is engaged in both human and animal stratification in service of the capitalist knowledge economy. This seemingly stable condition is however insecured by the animal rights activist as undercover learner and??worker, who enters education and research laboratories under false premises in order to extract the knowledge necessary to dismantle the logic of animal utility on which the scientific-educational apparatus rests. The present article is based on a semi-structured interview with an undercover worker. It draws on a synthesis of critical education and posthumanist theories to configure knowledge creation and subjectification processes in the ??negative spaces?? of education. The techne of undercover work includes mnemotechnical and prosthetic devices, calculation of risk, and mimetic labor. The article argues that the agenda of the undercover worker generates a multi-strained mimetic complex that composes a parasitic educational subject-assemblage redirecting scientific knowledge away from the animal stratification logic of the knowledge economy into different viral circuits; different lines of flight. It invites a rearticulation of the formal education state apparatus in more indeterminate directions, provoking scientific-educational knowledge-practices to become a catalytic impulse for their own disintegration.     

Mimesis: Where play and narrative meet

There is a great deal of narrative in play and also of play in narrative, especially in the narrative and play of young children. Part of the reason for this may be that they share an important pattern or structure in the way they work as mental instruments, mimesis. Mimesis is a mode of representation in which the relation between the symbol that represents and the thing in the world that is represented is in some sense imitative; that is, the representation resembles the thing represented. The concept of mimesis is not precise, but it has two important, though not entirely distinct, strands which are based on two kinds of imitation: the imitation found in the indexical symbol, or sign, and the imitation that is found in literary representation. The general notion of imitation that these two strands share is somewhat elusive, but it seems clear that both play and narrative would share equally in it. Further consequences are discussed.     

Structuring Writing for Reading: Hypertext and the Reading Body

This paper examines some textual devices that writers may use to pre-structure the activities of their readers. HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is used as an 'explicating device' to explore how writers can provide reading instructions, and how these can be experienced by readers. Structuring devices like paragraphs and sections, and hypertextual elements like notes and references are investigated in detail. In this way, the paper aspires to contribute to 'an ethnomethodology of textual practices'     

Exploring the Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Body Image,Body Satisfaction,and Body Competence

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been linked to bodily disorders (anorexia nervosa, obesity), and individuals with ASD are known to experience unique bodily states (e.g., exaggerated interoceptive sensitivity). Though there is evidence to suggest body variables may significantly impact quality of life in those with ASD, research has yet to examine the potential relationship between ASD and body image variables, that is, the evaluation of one's body. The present study examined 80 healthy college students (40 male, 40 female) who completed an online set of questionnaires regarding body image and satisfaction, body competency, depression, anxiety, and autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient, or AQ) (Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright, Skinner, Martin, &; Clubley, 2001 Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., &; Clubley, E. (2001). The autism spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists, and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 5–17.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Of primary interest was whether AQ scores, gender, and the interaction between AQ scores and gender could successfully predict participants' scores on body image, satisfaction, and competency scales. Autistic traits were only a significant predictor of scores on one measure of momentary body image and satisfaction (Body Image States Scale: Cash et al., 2002 Cash, T. F., Fleming, E. C., Alindogan, J., Steadman, L., &; Whitehead, A. (2002). Beyond body image as a trait: The development and validation of the body image states scale. Eating Disorders, 10, 103–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640260290081678[Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). However, our results did suggest the possibility of an interaction between gender and AQ scores in predicting reports of body image, satisfaction, and competency.     

中国哲学研究的身体维度——北京大学高研院暑期学术工作坊综述

2010年7月12-13日,"身体研究的问题意识"学术工作坊在北京大学举行.会议由北京大学高等人文研究院院长杜维明先生发起并主持.参加本次会议的有张祥龙教授、张再林教授、王庆节教授、张曙光教授、李河研究员、杨大春教授、陈立胜教授,原定参加会议的蒙培元教授因故未能到会,但提交了书面发言.与会学者围绕"中国哲学研究中的身体维度"这一主题,就中国哲学研究的身体维度能否成立,中国哲学的身体性研究能否带来中国哲学的创造性转化,这种身体研究能否为人类当前面临的大问题提供不同于西方的解答等问题展开了深人的交流与探讨.     

Body image perceptions among Chinese children and adolescents

In order to investigate the body image self-perception and the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among Chinese children and adolescents, 9100 children aged 3-15 years living in four cities completed a questionnaire assessing body image self-percepts and ideals by figural stimuli. The results indicate that (1) children's body ratings started to be significantly related to their BMIs at age 5 and correlations increased with age; (2) a wide range of current body sizes was chosen by Chinese boys and girls; (3) the ideal body sizes of boys and girls selected by boys and girls, respectively, were "boys by boys">"boys by girls">"girls by boys">"girls by girls" and (4) the satisfaction, mild dissatisfaction, and moderate dissatisfaction rates were 40.1%, 36.4% and 23.5%, respectively. Differences as a function of gender and age were identified. It was concluded that the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among children and adolescents of urban China was striking, and that the Chinese boys were not immune to body dissatisfaction.     

王羲之“写经换鹅”故事新释

一、王羲之与天师道的关系 东汉末年,道教两大教派并立.太平道遍布青、徐、幽、冀、兖、豫、荆、扬八州,旁及并、凉.天师道行于巴、蜀、汉中.自中平元年,即184年,以太平道为组织形式的黄巾起义被镇压后,作为道教的组织,太平道的活动不复见于史籍.西晋以后,只有天师道在北方之传播见于记载.①     

Watching My Weight: Self-Weighing, Body Surveillance, and Body Dissatisfaction

Understanding of the benefits of self-weighing are currently mixed, particularly with respect to women??s psychological health. Applying Objectification theory (Fredrickson and Roberts 1997), we explored the role of body surveillance as a mechanism in the link between self-weighing, a common weight management technique, and body dissatisfaction. The study was cross-sectional and the sample included primarily Caucasian, US college students from the Northeast (N?=?145). Participants completed measures of self-weighing, body surveillance, and body dissatisfaction. We predicted that body surveillance would mediate the positive relation between self-weighing and body dissatisfaction. Results supported our prediction; however additional work is necessary to clarify the potential negative effects of self-weighing on women??s body image.     

中国身体观与中国问题--兼评周与沉《身体:思想与修行》

身体问题是每一个人、每一个民族与文化的切身问题。人之为人的一个重要特征就是,他是作为身体而存在。身体不止是生理层面的血肉形躯(肉体),更由历史、社会、文化所建构而成的。身体既是人的自我理解的起点,又是人与社会、自然沟通交往的存在支点甚至价值支点。无论勘察人的本质,还是究诘人的处境,都不能不将身体作为一个重要的起点和条件。对人之存在与生存的关切,只有落实到对身体的关注,才算是全面与切实的。由身体出发,来探讨一个民族的思想与社会的历史和现状,不止是提供了一个崭新的视野,其本身就是一个至为重要的切入角度。在当代西…     

英文短文写作元认知、动机性因素与作文成绩之间关系的研究

随机选取大一、大二和大三学生共1043人为被试,采用协方差结构模型考察了非英语专业大学生英文写作元认知、自我效能、任务价值、成就目标、归N和英语作文成绩之间的关系。研究结果表明：（1）自我效能、任务价值、成就目标、归N两两相关且对英文写作元认知有直接影响,并通过英文写作元认知对英语作文成绩有间接影响;（2）英文写作元认知和自我效能对英语作文成绩有直接影响;（3）自我效能对英文写作元认知的影响力最大。     

Body Covering and Body Image: A Comparison of Veiled and Unveiled Muslim Women,Christian Women,and Atheist Women Regarding Body Checking,Body Dissatisfaction,and Eating Disorder Symptoms

Although Islam is the fastest growing religion worldwide, only few studies have investigated body image in Muslim women, and no study has investigated body checking. Therefore, the present study examined whether body image, body checking, and disordered eating differ between veiled and unveiled Muslim women, Christian women, and atheist women. While the groups did not differ regarding body dissatisfaction, unveiled Muslim women reported more checking than veiled Muslim and Christian women, and higher bulimia scores than Christian. Thus, prevention against eating disorders should integrate all women, irrespective of religious affiliation or veiling, with a particular focus on unveiled Muslim women.     

Body,Mind and Bonds

In this paper, after reviewing some of the controversial concepts of psychosomatics, and their historical development as well as some of their theoretical and clinical consequences, I propose a vincular point of view of this type of pathology, with some dreams of a psychosomatic patient where different aspects of the proposed model can be observed.     

Adorno,Interpretation, and the Body

Abstract

Adorno sees experience as intrinsically interpretative. As interpretation requires normative constraints, in order to guide and channel this interpretative engagement, this opens the question of how experience acquires its motivating criteria. If experience is from the first criterially structured, how are these criteria acquired? Moreover, as these criteria are acquired in isolation from experience – as they are the precondition of that experience – are these criteria sensitive to the particularity of the experiences they produce? In order to address these questions, and the problems they threaten to create for Adorno’s epistemology, I look at Adorno’s theory of impulse and cognition. I argue that Adorno grounds the criterial structure of experience and reason in self-preservation. This provides both a motivation and a determining constraint on the criterial structure of experience. It is also a determining influence which is epistemically flexible and compatible with Adorno’s project of tracing the ‘non-identical’.     

Pretty in Ink: Conformity,Resistance, and Negotiation in Women's Tattooing

Since the early 1990s, Canadian women have participated in tattooing in unprecedented numbers. These women are utilizing tattoo body projects (C. Shilling, 1993) to communicate a wide range of personal and cultural messages, and challenging the long-standing association between tattooing and masculinity. However, and perhaps more consequentially, women's tattoo projects express diverse sensibilities about femininity and the feminine body. For some Canadian women, contesting culturally established (N. Elias & J. Scotson, 1965) constructions of the female body is central in their tattoo body projects, whereas others participate in tattooing as an explicit form of consent to such constructions. In this paper, women's tattooing activities and their subsequent tattoo narratives are critically inspected as deeply gendered practices and discourses. I present participant observation and interview data on tattoo enthusiasm in Canada. The focus is directed toward the ways in which conformity to, resistance against, and the negotiation of established cultural ideas about femininity are equally embedded in women's tattooing. Drawing upon feminist theories about bodies (cf. S. Bordo, 1990; K. Davis, 1994; J. Price & M. Shildrick, 1999; S. Williams & G. Bendelow, 1998) and central tenets of process-sociology (N. Elias, 1991, 1994, 1996; N. Elias & J. Scotson, 1965), emphasis is given to how women employ tattooing as a communicative signifier of established and outsider constructions of femininity.     

Types of Aggression,Responsiveness to Provocation,and Callous-unemotional Traits in Detained Adolescents

The present study investigated differences in the behavioral and psychophysiological responses to provocation and in the level of callous-unemotional traits in boys exhibiting different patterns of aggression. Eighty-five boys (ages 13-18) in a juvenile detention center played a competitive computer task against a hypothetical peer who provided low and high levels of provocation. Youth high on both self-reported reactive and proactive aggression showed different behavioral responses to provocation than youth high on only reactive aggression. Specifically, the combined group showed high levels of aggressive responses without any provocation, whereas the group high on reactive aggression showed an increase in aggressive responding to low provocation. Further, results revealed a trend for the combined group to show lower levels of skin conductance reactivity to low provocation if they were also high on callous-unemotional traits.     

Body image, relationships, and time

The cultural standard of an impossible-to-attain ideal body image has been blamed for a plethora of psychological ills, from low self-esteem to eating disorders. In this study, the authors investigated the importance of current body image dissatisfaction compared with the ideal for married couples and for single people. The results indicated that although body image dissatisfaction exists in both married and single people, this discrepancy is of significantly less importance to married couples. The importance of long-lasting, satisfying relationships decreases the importance of body dissatisfaction and mitigates the impact of unrealistic ideal body image.