The University of Wyoming Posthuman Tour

Welcome to the University of Wyoming Posthuman Tour! You may be wondering, “What is the Posthuman?” or “What does the Posthuman have to do with the University of Wyoming?” The purpose of this tour is to answer both of these questions.

Posthumanism is a critical perspective that challenges the physical and conceptual boundaries of the “human.” While there is no consensus on the exact definition of Posthumanism, it is generally understood as a rejection of a human-centered point of view and the concept of a universal human experience. Posthumanism acknowledges that our notion of the “human” is continually changing with the emergence of new technologies. According to Posthumanism scholar N. Katherine Hayles, “the posthuman view thinks of the body as the original prosthesis we all learn to manipulate, so that extending or replacing the body with other prostheses becomes a continuation of a process that began before we are born” (from How We Became Posthuman, pp. 3). In other words, part of being human is learning to extend our mental and bodily capacities using prostheses or tools.

If you’re still confused about the concept of the Posthuman, that’s okay! In fact, that’s probably normal. It’s always easier to show than to explain a concept. That is the purpose of this tour: to show examples of the posthuman presence on UW’s Laramie campus. Enjoy the tour!

Note: All images and information in this tour are taken from the University of Wyoming’s website, unless indicated otherwise.