Self as Art
From Gothpoodle
One of the most significant ways in which Fifth Wave civilization differs from past cultures is in the concept of the self as a work of art.
In 2100, any wealthy citizen can use biosculpting, biomod implants, and other technologies to control his physical form and appearance. He has the resources and leisure time necessary to shape his personal lifestyle. He even has some conscious command over his own personality, through the use of education, memetic therapy, and neurosurgery. All of this sets him apart from humans of the past, who lacked such far-reaching and precise command of their own bodies, minds, and souls.
The implication is that every aspect of a person’s appearance and behavior can be considered a deliberate choice. The modern philosophy of art recognizes this fact by treating humanity as the ultimate medium for aesthetic expression. In the year 2000 a person might have been physically unattractive or personally obnoxious, but he would also have been forgiven these traits because they were in some degree beyond his control. In 2100, similar traits are evidence of bad taste and much harder to tolerate.
There are several major artistic schools dealing with the manipulation of self. Naturalists prize the imperfections of “normal” human forms and personalities, extolling a minimalist approach to biosculpting and memetic manipulation. Various classicist schools preach conformity, demanding that everyone mold themselves to a common physical and moral ideal. Epicureans teach that the individual human is the ultimate arbiter of taste, and should create a self that yields the greatest personal pleasure. Absurdists promote the most radical manipulations of body and mind, claiming that only in extremes can true beauty be found.
Most human beings are amateurs in the art of the self, just as in all other arts. Still, most people are familiar with the notion that one’s image is something that can be crafted and presented to others in a tasteful manner. Celebrities are the greatest masters of this art, and are openly admired for their command of personal expression regardless of what their actual accomplishments may be in other areas.
