Terms: Posthuman, Prosthetic, Performativity

The following terms are described as how they appear in Forms of Friction.

Posthuman -

The posthuman body is in a constant state of flux. The identity of these bodies is an effect of experiences with others. The posthuman identity is neither concrete nor foundational to their existence. Embodiment for the posthuman allows for information to take a form in order for the posthuman to adapt to and reconstruct their environments and bodies based on external experiences. Gender is thus not a customary ritual for the posthuman, but instead a performative act of fluidity with the use of prosthetics. 

The posthuman has no genesis, and no familial connection, and does not identify itself within the past. Sexual pleasure for the posthuman is not for reproductive purposes, but purely for the purpose of self-pleasure. The possibilities for posthuman sexual pleasure are unlimited; there are no restrictions to whom one is able to interact with. 

Prosthetics - 

In conjunction with gender performativity, prosthetics allow for the posthuman to maintain gender fluidity. Prosthetics in this sense, allow for the posthuman to apply and reapply an identity. Prosthetics employed by the posthuman are objects in which are extensions of the posthuman body – make-up, facial hair, razors, male and female genitalia.

Prosthetics do not act to replace either a part, or a whole of an identity which once existed, rather, the prosthetics extend from an already whole body – initiating the fluidity of the posthuman identity, an identity that defies an origin.

 Performativity - 

Gender performativity signifies how bodies act and interact based on gender. Gender, being a societal construction imposes particular performative actions on both males and females. The performative actions between gendered bodies maintain a heteronormative ideology, one that does not allow for an identity outside the male/female binary.