The Construction Of The Somaesthetics By Michel Foucault

"Body" is a central theme in Foucault’s thought that runs through all of his works. Foucault analyses social and cultural encounters of "body", revealing the freedom of body which is covered, and trying to make the diagnosis and prescription of aesthetics for body. It is also based on such living basis, Foucault develops his construction of somaesthetics, provides a unique idea for modern somaesthetics.Firstly, the paper makes an analysis on the overall situation of the existing somaesthetics, and points out the difference opinions of Foucault, Nietzsche and Melo Ponty, et al. Chapter Two is the key chapter of this paper, mainly discusses three aspects of Foucault on the construction of somaesthetics:Firstly, the body exists as object and is a by-product of power/knowledge -including body image, body feeling, which are social and cultural products. Secondly, in view of the body problem in Chapter One, Foucault also ponders over the reason why body should be normalized from rational angle? Try to find aesthetic experience of body beyond rational standard, release biological energy and reshape the body feeling through the ultimate experience-also reflects a defense on the body pleasure of aesthetic legitimacy. Thirdly, Foucault returns to the ancient Greeks to seek another way of aesthetic body which different from ultimate experience, puts forward the self-shaping body which can achieve the aesthetic survival. Chapter Three firstly analyses the way of thinking of the construction of somaesthetics, which is one of the characteristics of Foucault’s somaesthetics, thinking unlike the traditional paradigm is the enlightenment that Foucault inspires us; Lastly, the paper points out that Foucault’s somaesthetics causes our reflections on classical aesthetics theory, shaking the basic aesthetic principles once relished.Foucault’s analysis on the power technology of body is regarded as extremely radical, and his highly praised on ultimate experience and gender art is regarded as abnormal even evil, however, he makes difference to the construction of somaesthetics, because related to survival of anthropology, somaesthetics should have a variety of selected way and content, Foucault just provides a neglected corner of the body theory. The paper bases on Foucault’s body theory,but cuts from an aesthetic point of view, and compares the classical aesthetic theory to make a deep analysis of his somaesthetics, tries to present aspects and values of his somaesthetics comprehensively and objectively.