A somatechnics of moralism: new materialism or material foundationalism

Dennis Bruining

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    14 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A growing number of critical theorists are associating themselves with a movement now commonly referred to as new materialism. What characterizes this movement, broadly speaking, is a reconceptualization of matter in response to an alleged erasure of materiality in postmodern, poststructuralist, and/or constructivist theories. In this way of thinking, those associated with the so-called linguistic turn are said to have upheld (and reinforced) the dichotomy of nature/culture by focusing on culture to the detriment of nature. However, in this paper, I will argue that new materialist texts are often founded upon and supported by a problematic moralistic rhetoric. Employing a somatechnic framework, I will show that the ethical investment guiding much of the new materialism could be thought of as a particular vitalism, or rather, as I am conceiving it, a material foundationalism, in which matter possesses an inherent life-force.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)149-168
    Number of pages20
    JournalSomatechnics
    Volume3
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

    Keywords

    • General Issue Articles
    • Film
    • Media and Cultural Studies

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