Plastic Barbies and bodies made of plastic

Plastic is a controversial material, often connected with thoughts concerning the climate emergency. However, plastic doesn’t only concern the planet: it is also involved in many cosmetic practices, from injective technologies to facial rollers or other rejuvenating tools. Plastic bodies are not only those with silicone prothesis: the plasticity of humans is linked to the potentiality of transformation, but that can also involve polymeric materials. This paper is going to consider the role of plastic in body projects and their plasticity, understood as ability of self-modification in pursuit of social goals of empowerment. The reflection is based on results of the project Excel – The Pursuit of Excellence, comparing data collected during the workshop series The Hacked Barbie about the pressure to actively produce “perfect” bodies, and biohacking practices explored in the doctoral project Learning to Fly.