Book launch "Extremes of volume"

With the purpose of unraveling how these axioms, often stereotyped, are constructed and installed, researchers Valeria Radrigán and Tania Orellana developed the winning project of the new media research modality Fondart 2016, Extremos delvolume: obesity and anorexia in new media, whose final result is the publication of the bookExtremos delvolume powers and medialities around obesity and la anorexia, (by Editorial Cuarto Propio), which will be released next Thursday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. on GAM.

"We have always been very interested in how extreme body volumes are associated with certain concepts: the very thin with anorexia and the fat with obesity. We were interested in investigating how these are presented through the media and how these representations cause very strong stigmatizations, especially in terms of illness, generating deep social burdens: such as being fragile, ugly, unproductive, unsuccessful... We wanted to elucidate how these notions are installed through the media and different powers, such as medicine and fashion,” explains Valeria.

In addition to the theoretical and documentary review of the topic, the project included interviews with experts (psychiatrists and psychologists specializing in eating disorders, physical education teachers, yoga, etc.), testimonies, an online survey, a work table, as well as analysis of television programs in the area, blogs and different new media channels. 

The book will be presented by psychiatrist Pilar del Río and Dr. (c) in Estética U. de Chile, Cristóbal Vallejos. 

About the authors

Valeria Radrigán
Doctor in Philosophy c/m Aesthetics and Theory of Art, U. de Chile (2016). Master in Theory of Contemporary Art UCM, Spain (2007). Actress, UC (2004). Cultural researcher, her lines of work address the relationships of the body with technology, science and society, contemporary art and media culture. With a professional training from theater, moving to visual arts and philosophy, he has worked on the development of transdisciplinary and transmedial theoretical-practical methodologies. She has worked for more than 10 years as a university professor in Chile in various institutions; Currently, he develops his research independently through TRANSLAB, and maintains networks with various international centers and centers.

Tania Orellana
Doctor (c) in Philosophy c/m Aesthetics and Theory of Art, U. of Chile. Bachelor of Arts c/m Theory and History of Art, U. of Chile. (2009). Geographer, University of Chile. (2004). As a Geographer, she specializes in environmental impact assessment of the human, social and heritage environment. In the field of art and theory he has worked on the art-science-technology relationship, with emphasis on current practices of modification of the living body and construction of the body image, as well as on the ethical implications of this connection. He teaches at the University of Chile. In her work as a researcher she has been linked to TRANSLAB, the History of Sciences Group (GEHC) and the Transdisciplinary Laboratory in Social Practices and Subjectivity (LAPSOS)).