The Textuality of the Body: Orlan's Performance Art as Subversive Act: Analyzing the feminist debate, theorizing race, and de-colonizing the representation of the female body

Over the last few years, the debate over Orlan's controversial artwork has become more heated, particularly over her use of cosmetic surgery. Critics focus largely on her rather grotesque Carnal Art series in which she performs while a cosmetic surgeon operates on her. This book draws on a number of theorists to explore the tactics of subversion in Orlan's presentation of the body as art and enters the feminist debate over Orlan's work to indicate that the critics who consider the history of performance art produce more fecund discourse. Most importantly, this book encourages more discussion over the racial dimensions of Orlan's art and presents the theory that Orlan de-colonizes her body's representation. The analysis within will be helpful to anyone exploring Orlan's art, feminism, art history, and racial or body theory.