Ugo/Les Techniques du corps

CHAPTER 1- Concept of "techniques of the body"

In this first chapter anthropologist Marcel Mauss defines his concept of "techniques du corps" - "techniques of the body". Each society, group and individual possess specific techniques of the body. Mauss considers the body as the first and most natural object and technical means of man. ...to be continued

NOTES The ways in which from society to society men know how to use their bodies. It is essential to move from the concrete to the abstract and not the other way round We have seen swimming techniques undergo a change, in our generation's life-time Every technique has a specific form. Every technique is linked to a technical education. Tradition Transmission

Walking is a technique of the body, there is an education of walking. Body techniques are a habitus (Aristotle not Bourdieu's version): The techniques and work of collective and individual practical reason, where we usually only see the soul and its faculties of repetition.

Is there a habitus of image, of photography?

To the technical facts, to the techniques of the body we must add the facts of education. The notion of education and imitation. The child, the adult, imitates acts that have been successful and that he has seen successful by people who have authority over him. The act is imposed from the outside. The individual borrows the series of movements he is composed of at the act performed before him or with him by others. Three important elements of body techniques: Physiological - Psychological - Sociological.

Walking is an acquired technique. There may not be a natural way to walk in adults. Technique: a traditional and effective act. There is no technique without tradition. The transmission of techniques. Oral transmission. The traditional act of technology is felt by the author as an act of a mechanical, physical or physico-chemical nature and that it is pursued for this purpose.

The body is the first and most natural object and technical means of man. Before instrument techniques, there are body techniques. E.g.: Stare at, symbol different in the metro or in the army.