What does it mean to have a body? As this course will demonstrate, this question is not answered easily. Historically, individuals' bodies have been seen as a form of identification, i.e., as an indicator of one's race, class, gender, sexuality, and so on. Yet, over the past century, we have witnessed the ways in which technological progress has transformed these categories. In this course, we will explore the relationship between scientific and technological innovation on the one hand, and social and cultural attitudes towards on the body on the other. Focusing on the U.S. and relevant transnational contexts in the 20th century, this course will include an evaluation of the following topics: the distinction between “healthy” and “diseased” bodies; the ethics of plastic surgery; the organ transplantation market; reproductive surrogacy and adoption; disability and able-bodiedness; beliefs surrounding diet and weight; and genetic engineering and robotics. Over the course of the term, students will have the opportunity to engage with a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives