Body Webs: Re/constructing Boundaries in Shelley Jackson’s Patchwork Girl
Keywords:
cyberfiction, postmodern identity, Shelley Jackson, Patchwork Girl, cyborg ontology, hypertextual narrativeAbstract
This article analyzes Shelley Jackson's cyberfiction Patchwork Girl, exploring how the novel reconfigures boundaries between human and machine, nature and technology. The paper argues that Jackson's work exemplifies the postmodern cyborg ontology, where bodies and texts are reconstructed through digital media. The study examines Jackson's narrative techniques, including polyvocality and hypertextual structure, to demonstrate how these elements challenge traditional notions of embodiment in cyberspace. The article also investigates the cultural and political implications of Jackson's reimagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, particularly in its critique of American identity and immigrant experiences. By analyzing Patchwork Girl's complex structure and intertextual references, this work contends that Jackson's cyberfiction offers a nuanced exploration of postmodern identity and the blurred boundaries between human and machine.
(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)
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