In-Depth Notes on Posthumanism and Its Evolutionary Context

Definition of posthumanism: Concept of humans surpassing the limits of their natural bodies.
Historical context: This idea has existed for centuries, illustrated by artworks such as Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights, featuring hybrid creatures and transformations of the human form.

Classical Creatures: Historical monstrous hybrids like sphinxes, chimera, and mermaids illustrate a long-standing fascination with blending human and non-human traits.
Frankenstein (1931): A retelling of Mary Shelley's novel; explores the creation of life through the manipulation of body parts and raises questions about monstrosity and identity.
Blade Runner and I, Robot: These films explore themes of synthetic humanity and the ethics of intelligent machines, contrasting human emotions with robotic cold logic.

Jacques Wokensen's Automata (1764): Introduced mechanical models that mimicked life, showcasing human ingenuity in early robotics.
Wim Del Vuitt's Cloaca: A modern automaton that replicates human digestion, highlighting the desire to duplicate biological functions with machinery.

Taxonomy and Biological Identity: Karl Linnaeus’s classification system places humans within the animal kingdom, but evolutionary biology blurs those distinctions, suggesting continuity across species.
Invisible Traits: Identity is increasingly tied to genetics (DNA) rather than visible characteristics, questioning traditional notions of what it means to be human.

Posthuman Scenarios: Consideration of advanced biotechnology where human capabilities are enhanced through implants, genetic modifications, and cloning (e.g., cloned pets, preselected embryos).
Physical Modifications: The adoption of bionic elements (e.g., prosthetic limbs, cochlear implants) changes our understanding of the human body.

Humanism: Focuses on individualism, agency, and self-ownership among humans.
Posthumanism: Challenges the concept of individuality; sees identity as flexible and in relation to technology and society rather than innate.

New Forms of Perception: Advancements in technology (cameras, microscopes, virtual reality) alter human experience, suggesting that identity can extend beyond biological limits.
Catherine Hales' Posthumanism: Emphasizes informational patterns over materiality; the body viewed as an accident of historical evolution rather than a necessity.

Feminism and Postcolonial Theory: Challenges traditional notions of identity and agency, highlighting individuals historically marginalized.
Postmodern Critiques: Examination of capitalism, digital culture, and biological understandings helps reshape humanist concepts.

Donna Haraway's A Cyborg Manifesto (1985): Advocates for breaking boundaries between categories (human/machine, human/animal); encourages coalition strategies over identity politics.
Historic Cases: Artists like Dennis Avner (Catman) and Orlan redefined their bodies artistically, pushing the limits of identity and self-perception.

Stelarc's Performances: Explores the integration of technology with the human body, including his 'ear on arm' and 'Ping Body' projects.
Symbiotic A's Victimless Leather: Created from living cells, critiques traditional animal treatment in fashion, posing philosophical questions about life and consumption.
Eduardo Katz's GFP Bunny and Edunia Plant: These works explore genetic modification and the intersections of art, science, and ethics, contributing to conversations around biotic art.

Posthumanism promotes a re-examination of identity, humanity, and the body within the context of technological advancements and ethical considerations.
Future discussions may explore the moral implications and potential trajectories of human evolution in light of these changes.