Fashioning the Body: Versions of the Citizen, the Self, and the Subject

There were a few events that happened over the last month that made me realize that these three things actually have a lot in common. I broke a tooth and had to go to the dentist. We had to shop for a new computer and my SO started learning about Linux or open source software. The commonality is that we as consumers are not supposed to question what the doctor or dentist tells us or consider the possibility that we don't have to buy the latest shiny new object to make us happy. We're supposed to believe that if we take the right pills or buy the right stuff, happiness and good health will follow.

The first of these events that happened was breaking my tooth. First rant- when you call a dentist's office, tell them you need an emergency appointment and they offer to get you in next month. When I finally get an appointment, the dentist tells me that my tooth is broken. Somehow I get the impression that he expects me to be surprised by this information. He also tells me that I need to go to an oral surgeon to get it pulled. When I ask him what I should do to take care of myself while I'm waiting to see the other dentist, he gives me a prescription for codeine, tells me not to bite down hard on the broken tooth. He also told me not to worry because the other dentist would take care of me. I walked out the office wondering what was strange about me wanting to participate in my own personal care. I was supposed to accept that swallowing this pill could make me all better and I shouldn't have questioned the authority of the dentist.

When one of our computers died, we started looking into buying a new one. I have come to the belief that when you start thinking about changing your operating system it's almost like changing your religion. When we started looking at different websites for computers there usually were two choices for operating systems and they were both Microsoft products. I noticed that on every website that we looked at there weren't any other options to Windows. It could be said that the reason I didn't find any Mac results is because I wasn't searching for Mac. However, it seemed that when I searched for a guide on how to buy a new computer it would contain advice on which Microsoft product was best suited for specific user needs. It felt like I wasn't supposed to question whether or not I needed Windows just which version would work best for me.

This brings me to Linux. Unlike Mac and Windows, there are versions of Linux that are free. It's free in every sense of the word too. I could download one of these versions, modify it as I so desired and if I could get people to buy my modified version, I could sell it. One of the biggest advocates for open source software is Ernie Ball- the company that makes guitars. You can read about that here.

http://www.news.com/2008-1082_3-5065859.html

However, in order to do this, you need to have some knowledge about your computer. If you switch to Linux, you're not going to get an operating system with all the applications included. You'll need to configure your operating system to fit your needs. One of the major differences in becoming a Linux user after using a more mainstream operating system is that you'll become your own support system. However, there are versions of Red Hat that come with support and there is a community of Linux users that can be utilized. It could be said that Linux is the DIY operating system. If this interests you, here is an article about switching to Linux.

http://www.maximumpc.com/linux

Ever since beginning this program, I've put a lot of thought into the forces that have an effect on how I see my body, what I do with my body, how I take care of my body and what I buy for my body. One of the facts that have stood out to me the most is that we as consumers are somehow expected to believe that it's not in our best interest to question the choices that are available to us. We're supposed to accept if we truly want to be healthy and happy we need to buy the newest, shiniest objects available. Happiness isn't something that comes from within; you can buy it from a store. The main commonality that I found in operating systems, health care and consumer culture was that alternatives to mainstream options were not easy to find unless I was searching specifically for that information.