Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Cyborg Mermaid (or: How Technè Can Help the Misfits Fit in)

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Love and Sex with Robots (LSR 2016)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 10237))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

In feminist studies, the figure of the mermaid has long been regarded as flawed, disabled and less-than-human. Her theoretical counterpart in that respect would be the cyborg, an image used to show that with the help of robotics, humankind could be larger than life. So, what would happen if we could combine those two images and apply them to create “super love” more-than-human relationships? This article explores the possibilities of technology for “mermaids”, people who normally fall outside the norm, to satisfy human desires in a new way. Two case studies will be presented, first we will look at people who identify as having ASD and after that we will look at people who have BDSM-oriented desires. We shortly discuss the added value of practice theory for exploring how people are altered by technè.

The paper is a co-production from Martine Mussies and Emiel Maliepaard. Martine had a substantial larger role on the conceptualization of the cyborg, mermaid, and cyborg mermaid and the first case study, whereas Emiel had a role in the reflection and second case study. Additionally, Martine presented our paper at the Second International Congress of Love and Sex with Robots (19-20 December 2016 at Goldsmith University, London).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In her book When Species Meet, Donna Haraway describes the sensation of touching other species as a form of mutual becoming in space and the world rather than an act of affirming the human ‘being’ [12].

  2. 2.

    Of course, creating more-than-human bodies might result in creating new mermaids in our society: people who are not able to use technè and people who are not willing to incorporate technè in their bodies and lives.

  3. 3.

    A more recent viewpoint is that non-human bodies not only mediate practices but also actively constitute practices. Inspiration can be drawn from, amongst others, actor-network theory.

  4. 4.

    Actions do not refer to basic doings or saying but to doings and/or sayings in specific circumstances. In other words, bodily doings and sayings which manifest inner expressions such as sensations and triggers.

References

  1. Poe, E.A.: The man that was used up. http://librivox.org/the-works-of-edgar-allan-poe-raven-edition-volume-4-by-edgar-allan-poe/

  2. Clynes, M.E., Kline, N.S.: Cyborgs and space. http://web.mit.edu/digitalapollo/Documents/Chapter1/cyborgs.pdf

  3. Åsberg, C.: Het lichaam als strijdtoneel: De cyborg en feministische visies op de biologie. In: Buikema, R., Van der Tuin, I. (eds.) Gender in Media, Kunst en Cultuur, pp. 53–74. Coutinho, Bussum (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Haraway, D.: Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature. Routledge, London (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Haraway, D.: The promises of monsters: a regenerative politics for inappropriate/d others. In: Grossberg, L., Nelson, C., Treichler, P.A. (eds.) Cultural Studies, pp. 295–337. Routledge, New York (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Valente, J.M.: Cyborgization: deaf education for young children in the cochlear implantation era. Qual. Inquiry 17(7), 639–652 (2011). doi:10.1177/1077800411414006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kincheloe, P.J.: Do androids dream of electric speech: the construction of cochlear implant identity on American television and the new deaf cyborg. M/C J. 13(3) (2011) http://journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mcjournal/article/view/254

  8. De Martelaere, P.: Een verlangen naar ontroostbaarheid. http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/mart003verl01_01/mart003verl01_01.pdf

  9. Butler, J.: Giving an Account of One’s Self. Fortham University Press, New York (2005)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Garland-Thomas, R.: Misfits: a feminist materialist disability concept. In: Devlieger, P., Miranda-Galarza, B., Brown, S.E. (eds.) Rethinking Disability: World Perspectives in Culture and Society. Garant uitgevers, Antwerpen (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Keller, H.: The world I live in. https://archive.org/details/worldilivein00kellgoog

  12. Haraway, D.: When Species Meet. University of Minnesota Press, Minnesota (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mol, A.: “Sekse” en “wetenschap”: Een vergelijking met twee onbekenden. In: Boon, L., De Vries, G. (eds.) Wetenschapstheorie: De empirische wending, pp. 97–107. Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Chargaff, I.: In dispraise of reductionism. Bioscience 47(11), 795–797 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Harding, S.: The Science Question in Feminism. Cornwell University Press, London (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yates, A.: Can disabled athletes outcompete able-bodied athletes? https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/08/can-disabled-athletes-outcompete-able-bodied-athletes

  17. Van der Palen, T.A.: Cyborg autobiography: autism & the posthuman. https://universiteitutrecht.academia.edu/TeunievanderPalen

  18. Ebben, H.: In constant encounter with one’s environment: presenting counter-metaphors in the study of the discourse of autism and negotiations of space in literature and visual culture. http://theses.ubn.ru.nl/bitstream/handle/123456789/624/18-08-31%20Ebben%20Thesis.pdf?sequence=1

  19. Bleuler, E.: Dementia Praecox, oder Gruppe der Schizophrenien. Leipzig (1911)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Parnas, J., Bovet, P.: Autism in schizophrenia revisited. Compr. Psychiatry 32, 7–21 (1991). doi:10.1016/0010-440X(91)90065-K

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kanner, L.: Autistic disturbances of affective contact. https://simonsfoundation.s3.amazonaws.com/share/071207-leo-kanner-autistic-affective-contact.pdf

  22. Asperger, H.: Die “Autistischen Psychopathen” im Kindesalter. http://www.autismus-biberach.com/Asperger_Hans-_Autistischen_Psychopathen.pdf

  23. Fleischmann, C.: http://carlysvoice.com/home/

  24. Fleischmann, A., Fleischmann, C.: Carly’s Voice: Breaking Through Autism. Touchstone, New York City (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Grandin, T.: Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals. http://www.grandin.com/inc/squeeze.html

  26. Kolmes, K., Stock, W., Moser, C.: Investigating bias in psychotherapy with BDSM clients. J. Homosex. 50(2), 301–324 (2006). doi:10.1300/J082v50n02_15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Haymore, C.: Sadomasochism: the pleasure of pain. Undergrad. J. Psychol. 15, 50–56 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wismeijer, A.J., Van Assen, A.L.M.: Psychological characteristics of BDSM practitioners. J. Sex. Med. 10(8), 1943–1952 (2013). doi:10.1111/jsm.12192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Stockwell, F.M., Walker, D.J., Eshleman, J.W.: Measures of implicit and explicit attitudes toward mainstream and BDSM sexual terms using the IRAP and questionnaire with BDSM/fetish and student participants. Psychol. Rec. 60(2), 307–324 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Masters, W., Johnson, V., Kolodny, R.: Human Sexuality, 2nd edn. Little, Brown, and Company, Boston (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Renaud, C.A., Byers, E.S.: Exploring the frequency, diversity, and context of university students’ positive and negative sexual cognitions. Can. J. Hum. Sex. 8(1), 17–30 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Bezreh, T., Weinber, T.S., Edgar, T.: BDSM disclosure and stigma management: identifying opportunities for sex education. Am. J. Sex. Educ. 7(1), 37–61 (2012). doi:10.1080/15546128.2012.650984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Bourdage, J.S., Lee, K., Ashton, M.C., Perry, A.: Big five and HEXACO model personality correlates of sexuality. Pers. Diff. 43(6), 1506–1516 (2005). doi:10.1016/j.paid.2007.04.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Gosselin, C., Wilson, G.D.: Sexual Variations: Fetishisism, Sadomasochism, and Transvestism. Simon & Schuster, New York (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Schatzki, T.R.: Social Practices: A Wittgensteinian Approach to Human Activity and the Social, 4th edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Brown, G.: Ceramics, clothing and other bodies: affective geographies of homoerotic cruising encounters. Soc. Cult. Geogr. 9(8), 915–932 (2008). doi:10.1080/14649360802441457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Verbeek, P.: Cyborg intentionality: rethinking the phenomenology of human–technology relations. Phenomenol. Cognit. Sci. 7(3), 387–395 (2008). doi:10.1007/s11097-008-9099-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Latour, B.: Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network Theory. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Murdoch, J.: Inhuman/nonhuman/human: actor-network theory and the prospects for a nondualistic and symmetrical perspective on nature and society. Environ. Plan. D Soc. Space 15, 731–756 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Thrift, N.: Spatial Formations. Sage, Thousand Oaks (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Thrift, N.: Non-representational Theory. Routledge, London (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Bourdieu, P.: Outline of a Social Theory of Practice (Translation Richard Nice). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1977)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  43. Schatzki, T.R.: The Site of the Social: A Philosophical Account of the Constitution of Social Life and Change. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park Philadelphia (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Schatzki, T.R.: Wittgenstein and the social context of an individual life. Hist. Hum. Sci. 13(1), 93–104 (2000). doi:10.1177/09526950022120629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Reckwitz, A.: Towards a theory of practice: a development in culturalist theorizing. Eur. J. Soc. Theory 5(2), 243–263 (2002). doi:10.1177/13684310222225432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Schatzki, T.R.: Introduction: practice theory. In: Schatzki, T.R., Knorr Cetina, K., Von Savigny, E. (eds.) The Practice Turn in Contemporary Theory, pp. 1–14. Routledge, London (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Levy, D.: Love and Sex with Robots. Harper Perennial, London (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  48. McCain, C.: Let’s get digital (2016). https://www.1843magazine.com/design/the-daily/lets-get-digital

  49. Deleuze, G., Guattari, F.: Capitalisme et schizoprénie 1: L’Anti-Oedipe, p. 2. Editions du Minuit, Paris (1972). (Translated by Helen R. Lane, Robert Hurley, and Mark Seem)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers of the Second International Congress of Love and Sex with Robots for their valuable feedback. We are very grateful for the comments and questions from other participants and visitors of the same conference.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Geography, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands

    Martine Mussies & Emiel Maliepaard

Authors
  1. Martine Mussies
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Emiel Maliepaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martine Mussies .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. City, University of London, London, United Kingdom

    Adrian David Cheok

  2. Goldsmiths, University of London, London, United Kingdom

    Kate Devlin

  3. Intelligent Toys Ltd., London, United Kingdom

    David Levy

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Mussies, M., Maliepaard, E. (2017). The Cyborg Mermaid (or: How Technè Can Help the Misfits Fit in). In: Cheok, A., Devlin, K., Levy, D. (eds) Love and Sex with Robots. LSR 2016. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10237. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57738-8_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57738-8_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-57737-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57738-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation