The real body beautiful

Physical and mental contortions

Eurozine Review 10/2021

Moral failures

Blätter für deutsche und internationale Politik 6/2021

The real body beautiful

Vikerkaar 4-5/2021

Communism’s centennial abyss

Index on Censorship 1/2021

Understanding money

Czas Kultury 1/21

 

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Influencers such as bodybuilders and diet counselors, suggests Vikerkaar, often couch their advice in the language of health. Documentary filmmaker Marian Võsumets argues that what lies beneath is often little more than body policing. Men but more often women are encouraged to spend inordinate amounts of time and effort shaping themselves to fit unrealistic expectations.

In line with neoliberalism, the individual, when seeking a perfect body, abandons collective responsibility for food deserts, poor urban planning and fast-food’s dominance. ‘The decision to make peace with one’s body is a feminist act of resistance,’ writes Võsumets. ‘We ought to talk about body neutrality alongside body positivity. The focus should be on what your body enables you to do, not on what it lacks.’

Witchcraft or therapy

Media scholar Berit Renser asks why thousands of people tell their deepest, darkest secrets to closed Facebook witchcraft groups. Though such communities are often ridiculed, Renser argues that the values they embody resemble those of mainstream therapy culture. Alternative therapy has spread to encompass almost every aspect of social life, from family life to corporate management. And the thriving periphery of therapy, writes Renser, is increasingly substituting more recognized methods: ‘Dr. Freud’s couch has been replaced with social media support groups and digital consultations from psychics, whose bills are not quite as high, whose lines are not quite as long and who do not carry the stigma of marking you as “mentally ill”.’

Purity and Danger

Kaisa Ling reflects on the philosophy and history of filth, arguing that the perception of the modern world as cleaner is exactly that – a perception. Nineteenth century urbanization brought about a new era of dirtiness, which far exceeded that of the countryside. Although filth is now positioned in relation to hygiene and microbiology, Ling considers that attitudes haven’t changed all that much. Indeed, filth can be as attractive as it is repulsive: ‘We derive enjoyment from the feeling of sweaty skin after sport, from rolling around in autumnal leaves or puddles. They say there’s no activity more disgusting than the act of giving birth, an act that results in pure joy. Not to mention sex, which is filthy and uplifting in almost equal measure.’

This article is part of the 10/2021 Eurozine review. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates on reviews and our latest publishing.