Cyborg art and bioethics: Stelarc and the third ear

Abstract

This paper looks into the possibilities of the body as a unitary structure and its reconfiguration through technological development. It includes a report on the state of the question, considering that conceptual and physical re-articulation of the human reaches its most radical degree within the context of art, where questions about the notion of limit on the body and ethical conflicts emerge. Considering that these practices (particularly in the Latin American context) are recent, it is necessary to develop this subject by reviewing the international artistic tradition. Particularly, the work of the Australian Stelarc will set a good example of the problem, analyzing how these body modifications involve new systems of representation, identity handling, etc.