“Cancer was an alchemist”: Eve Ensler’s Experiences of Vulnerability in In the Body of the World
This article analyzes Eve Ensler’s experiences of vulnerability as they are related in her 2013 memoir, In the Body of the World. While the book illustrates “traditional” or etymological vulnerability, resulting from trauma and cancer, it also exemplifies what American philosopher Erinn Gilson calls...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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European Association for American Studies
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| Series: | European Journal of American Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/12074 |
| _version_ | 1797310320268541952 |
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| author | Pascale Antolin |
| author_facet | Pascale Antolin |
| author_sort | Pascale Antolin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article analyzes Eve Ensler’s experiences of vulnerability as they are related in her 2013 memoir, In the Body of the World. While the book illustrates “traditional” or etymological vulnerability, resulting from trauma and cancer, it also exemplifies what American philosopher Erinn Gilson calls “epistemic vulnerability,” i.e. vulnerability not as weakness but as potential. As both illness and trauma narrative, Ensler’s memoir also offers an opportunity to question the dichotomy between disability and trauma studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T01:41:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-60d439ef555d4dfa98554396d4850c75 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1991-9336 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T01:41:16Z |
| publisher | European Association for American Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of American Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-60d439ef555d4dfa98554396d4850c752024-02-14T13:22:08ZengEuropean Association for American StudiesEuropean Journal of American Studies1991-933612210.4000/ejas.12074“Cancer was an alchemist”: Eve Ensler’s Experiences of Vulnerability in In the Body of the WorldPascale AntolinThis article analyzes Eve Ensler’s experiences of vulnerability as they are related in her 2013 memoir, In the Body of the World. While the book illustrates “traditional” or etymological vulnerability, resulting from trauma and cancer, it also exemplifies what American philosopher Erinn Gilson calls “epistemic vulnerability,” i.e. vulnerability not as weakness but as potential. As both illness and trauma narrative, Ensler’s memoir also offers an opportunity to question the dichotomy between disability and trauma studies.https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/12074traumacancerEve Enslerepistemeillness memoirvulnerability |
| spellingShingle | Pascale Antolin “Cancer was an alchemist”: Eve Ensler’s Experiences of Vulnerability in In the Body of the World European Journal of American Studies trauma cancer Eve Ensler episteme illness memoir vulnerability |
| title | “Cancer was an alchemist”: Eve Ensler’s Experiences of Vulnerability in In the Body of the World |
| title_full | “Cancer was an alchemist”: Eve Ensler’s Experiences of Vulnerability in In the Body of the World |
| title_fullStr | “Cancer was an alchemist”: Eve Ensler’s Experiences of Vulnerability in In the Body of the World |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Cancer was an alchemist”: Eve Ensler’s Experiences of Vulnerability in In the Body of the World |
| title_short | “Cancer was an alchemist”: Eve Ensler’s Experiences of Vulnerability in In the Body of the World |
| title_sort | cancer was an alchemist eve ensler s experiences of vulnerability in in the body of the world |
| topic | trauma cancer Eve Ensler episteme illness memoir vulnerability |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/12074 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pascaleantolin cancerwasanalchemisteveenslersexperiencesofvulnerabilityininthebodyoftheworld |