Adorning Bodies: Meaning, Evolution, and Beauty in Humans and Animals

Description

How is meaning in our bodies constructed? To what extent is meaning in bodies innate, evolved through biological adaptations? To what extent is meaning in bodies culturally constructed? Does it change when we adorn ourselves in dress? In Adorning Bodies,Marilynn Johnsondraws on evolutionary theory and philosophy in order to think about art, beauty, and aesthetics. Considering meaning in bodies and bodily adornment, she explores how the ways we use our bodies are similar to ― yet at other times different from ― animals. Johnson engages with the work of evolutionary theorists, philosophers of language, and cultural theorists ― Charles Darwin, H. P. Grice, and Roland Barthes respectively ― to examine both natural and non-natural meanings. She addresses how both systems of meaning signify relevant information to other humans, with respect to both bodies and clothes. Johnson also demonstrates that how we dress could negatively influence the way our bodies can be read, and how some humans and animals use their bodies to deceive. Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Illustrations Figures Tables Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Meaning in Bodies and Adornment Introduction Mind and Body Interpretations A House Finch Communicates Bodily Communication in Homo sapiens Overview of the Book Chapter 2: Taking Adornment Seriously: Structuralism and Meaning Chapter 3: Details on the Gricean View Chapter 4: Deception in the Human and Animal Worlds: Imitation of Natural Meaning and Lying with Non-Natural Meaning Chapter 5: Darwin on Animal Bodies Chapter 6: Human Sexual Selection Chapter 7: The Evolution of Bodily Adornment: Signaling and Meaning-Making in Prehistory Chapter 8: Emotions: Information, Misperception, Suppression, Expression Chapter 9: On Beauty: Aesthetic Choices, Adornment, and Art A Personal Theory A Word on Fashion What Meanings Do Chapter 2: Taking Adornment Seriously: Structuralism and Meaning Introduction Adornment: The Object of Inquiry The Functions of Adornment Adornment and Fashion “Adornment” The Explananda Adornment as Protected “Speech” Dress and the Code Model A More Nuanced Account of Meaning Natural Meaning and Imitation of Natural Meaning Structuralism versus Intentionalism Black Armbands of Mourning The Bulldogs The Requirements for Natural Meaning Natural Meaning and Truth Natural Meaning and Bodies The Nature of Natural Meaning The Distinction between Natural and Non-Natural Meaning Chapter 3: Details on the Gricean View Intro Word Meaning and Speaker Meaning Grice on Cooperation and Implicature Implicature in Adornment Anything Can Mean Anything Mistaken about Meaning Nonlinguistic Communication Personal Stylists Uniforms “Slaves” to Fashion Adornment Is “Mere” Imitation Conventions Saying Nothing “I don’t think about what I wear” Artifice Chapter 4: Deception in the Human and Animal Worlds: Imitation of Natural Meaning and Lying with Non-Natural Meaning Introduction A Compulsive Con Man Lying and Deception through Dress Imitation of Natural Meaning Imitation of Natural Meaning in Non-Human Animals The Evolution of Imitative Adornment Chapter 5: Darwin on Animal Bodies Introduction Natural Selection Natural Selection and Deception Natural Selection and Mimicry Deceptive Behaviors Sexual Selection Peacock’s Feathers Unconscious Selection On the Matter of Female Choice: “Maleness” Held “Hostage” Chapter 6: Human Sexual Selection Introduction Ladies and Feathers The Handicap Principle Darwin on Diversity in Sexual Preference Sexual Selection, Adornment, and Natural Meaning Natural Meaning and Adornment Female Preference for Certain Traits Adornment and Co-evolution Natural and Sexual Selection in Bodily Adornment School Dress Codes The Stonewall Riots Nightclub Dress Codes Reappropriation and Metalinguistic Negotiation Crinolines and Slutwalks SlutWalks Chapter 7: The Evolution of Bodily Adornment: Signaling and Meaning-Making in Prehistory Introduction Imitation of Natural Meaning in the Middle Ages Imitation of Natural Meaning in Ancient Egypt Imitation of Natural Meaning in Prehistory: Red Ochre Interpreting Prehistory Peircean Interpretation in Archaeology: The Case of Qafzeh Cave Functional or Symbolic: A False Dichotomy Non-Natural Meaning in Human Adornment The Case of Shell Beads: Stiner Uniquely Human? Is Adornment Uniquely Human? Cephalopod Color Change Wallowing Neanderthal Adornment? The Significance of Meaning in Prehistoric Bodily Adornment Chapter 8: Emotions: Information, Misperception, Suppression, and Expression The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals Drawing on the Body in Literature Expression and Adornment in Darwin’s Work The Mind Informs the Body The Body Informs the Mind A Psychology of the Body: PTSD A Psychology of the Body: Depression Our Body Talks to Us Coming Back to Language: Affect and Utterances What Hoodies Mean Can We Change This? Meaning of Garments Changes with the Wearer Adornment and Perception of Race Chapter 9: On Beauty: Aesthetic Choices, Adornment, and Art Introduction Prum’s Account Animal Art Prum’s Account Relevant Questions Beauty and Desire Turner or Tinder Sexual Selection, Sexual Dimorphism, and Our Bodies Pornography Language Not Excluded Intentions The True Aim of Aesthetics Beauty and Co-evolution Co-evolution and the Distinction between Natural and Non-Natural Meaning Art and Bodily Adornment Adornment and Art Beauty through Choice Notes Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 References Index