Divagações quiméricas sobre os limites do humano: uma ode à monstruosidade

Abstract

As the title of this article states, my intent is to question the universality of the concept of humanity based on the conception of monstrosity, which is very much akin to that of animality. Contrary to how humanity is presented, the latter does not constitute universality, but rather universalization, perpetuating the dehumanization of bodies that do not mirror the ideals of modernity. The figure of the monster is attributed to these bodies, which legitimizes the humanity of the colonial Self. Categories such as the Animal and Otherness emerge to designate these Others, opposed to the Self. Thus, the aim of this research is to reflect upon the limits of the human, with the figure of the chimera –- a symbiosis of dragon, mammals and reptile – as a representation of this monstrosity that is so dangerous for humanity.

Keywords

• animality
• humanity
• monstrosity
• designation
• cyborg politics