The construction of the other (PDF)

Essay from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1.0, University of Dortmund (Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: Inhuman or In-human, language: English, abstract: The following essay will concentrate on the construction of the other, the cybernetic and synthetic body in relation to the mind and the self, such as in Mary Shelley¿s 'Frankenstein', E.T.A. Hoffmann¿s 'Der Sandmann' as well as Mamoru Oshii¿s 'Ghost in the shell'.
What are the relations of the different spheres of body, mind and society and how do they effect one another ? What are their effects on the self ? What makes up human beings ? These are the central question I will talk about. 1. Olimpia
If we take a look at the representation of Olympiäs body in 'Der Sandmann' we find out that there are a few mayor qualities concerning her physiognomy as described by Nathanael and the narrator. Nathanael thinks that he had never seen a more beautiful stature than hers (p.26) but on the other hand he describes her as numb and her eyes as lifeless (p.26, p. 27). Olimpias appearance at the ball is described as being strange concerning the form of her back and hips (p.29). It seems as if she is forced into her physiognomy by a corset or something comparable.
When Nathanael touches her hand (p. 30) he describes it as cold as ice and it reminds him of death. These are just a few features of Olimpiäs body, but I think they are representative for her in general. The descriptions seem to fit to that of an advance sex doll, which I think is not so far away from what Hoffman intended it to be like. Olimpiäs body has one mayor function, that is to serve one¿s delight, rather than having a function of self-referential purpose. Professor Spalanzi built her to satisfy his scientific hunger, Nathanael uses it as an object to project his own desires onto it (as we have already pointed out in the course). She is just a means to an end. She is also described as to move in a rather measured and prim way. Her whole appearance is artificial and unnatural, one might say discrete and digital.