Ciała w glorii. Z antropologicznego archiwum estetyzacji

Archaic texts and artifacts shows that human appearance, physiognomy, figure, charm, motoric, and body functioning was perceived as ‘significant’ in peculiar contexts. They are worth recalling. Among others, biometric identification and mantic were practiced in ancient Mediterranean cultures. In the Middle Ages, human body became meaningful when celebrating in isolation from its everyday functionalities. Its ‘glory’ only appeared in light of eschatology. Nowadays, splendid ‘ideal’ bodies detach themselves from both transcendent as well as immanent meanings (i.e., psyche, interiority). They seem to be empty, as Giorgio Agamben emphasizes.