This thesis explores the fluid and often elusive concept of the body as mediated through technology and art, questioning the boundaries between the physical and virtual. By investigating the interactions of cultural ideals, technological mediation, and material experimentation, the research delves into how contemporary art practices can challenge and expand our understanding of embodiment.
Central to this exploration is the use of varied mediums such as sculpture, digital imagery, and installation art to create what I term \"virtual bodies\"—conceptual entities that exist at the intersection of imagination and material reality. These creations often reflect and critique societal norms regarding beauty, health, and identity, particularly through the lens of the female experience, employing disruptive erotics to challenge the medical and male gaze and their objectifying tendencies.
The work presented aims to provoke thought about the mutable nature of identity in the digital age and to foster a deeper understanding of how art interacts with and reshapes our perceptions of the physical self in increasingly virtual environments.
","abstract_html":"<p>This thesis explores the fluid and often elusive concept of the body as mediated through technology and art, questioning the boundaries between the physical and virtual. By investigating the interactions of cultural ideals, technological mediation, and material experimentation, the research delves into how contemporary art practices can challenge and expand our understanding of embodiment.</p> <p>Central to this exploration is the use of varied mediums such as sculpture, digital imagery, and installation art to create what I term "virtual bodies"—conceptual entities that exist at the intersection of imagination and material reality. These creations often reflect and critique societal norms regarding beauty, health, and identity, particularly through the lens of the female experience, employing disruptive erotics to challenge the medical and male gaze and their objectifying tendencies.</p> <p>The work presented aims to provoke thought about the mutable nature of identity in the digital age and to foster a deeper understanding of how art interacts with and reshapes our perceptions of the physical self in increasingly virtual environments.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Elhoffer, Emily"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Art","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Graduate School of Art","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Arny Nadler","Patricia Olynyk","Amy Hauft"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-05-08T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-05-08T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:12:25Z","subjects":["surrogate","AI","Empathy","Medical Gaze","Male Gaze","Beauty","Health","Sculpture","Digital Art","Erotics","Art Practice"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mfa_visual_art/25","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Arny Nadler","Patricia Olynyk","Amy Hauft"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Elhoffer, Emily"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-05-09T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Graduate School of Art"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Art"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["surrogate","AI","Empathy","Medical Gaze","Male Gaze","Beauty","Health","Sculpture","Digital Art","Erotics","Art Practice"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mfa_visual_art/25"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis explores the fluid and often elusive concept of the body as mediated through technology and art, questioning the boundaries between the physical and virtual. By investigating the interactions of cultural ideals, technological mediation, and material experimentation, the research delves into how contemporary art practices can challenge and expand our understanding of embodiment.
Central to this exploration is the use of varied mediums such as sculpture, digital imagery, and installation art to create what I term \"virtual bodies\"—conceptual entities that exist at the intersection of imagination and material reality. These creations often reflect and critique societal norms regarding beauty, health, and identity, particularly through the lens of the female experience, employing disruptive erotics to challenge the medical and male gaze and their objectifying tendencies.
The work presented aims to provoke thought about the mutable nature of identity in the digital age and to foster a deeper understanding of how art interacts with and reshapes our perceptions of the physical self in increasingly virtual environments.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Virtual Bodies: Probing Fake Flesh"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Arny Nadler","Patricia Olynyk","Amy Hauft"],"dc:creator":["Elhoffer, Emily"],"dc:date.available":["2024-05-09T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis explores the fluid and often elusive concept of the body as mediated through technology and art, questioning the boundaries between the physical and virtual. By investigating the interactions of cultural ideals, technological mediation, and material experimentation, the research delves into how contemporary art practices can challenge and expand our understanding of embodiment.
Central to this exploration is the use of varied mediums such as sculpture, digital imagery, and installation art to create what I term \"virtual bodies\"—conceptual entities that exist at the intersection of imagination and material reality. These creations often reflect and critique societal norms regarding beauty, health, and identity, particularly through the lens of the female experience, employing disruptive erotics to challenge the medical and male gaze and their objectifying tendencies.
The work presented aims to provoke thought about the mutable nature of identity in the digital age and to foster a deeper understanding of how art interacts with and reshapes our perceptions of the physical self in increasingly virtual environments.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mfa_visual_art/25"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:subject":["surrogate","AI","Empathy","Medical Gaze","Male Gaze","Beauty","Health","Sculpture","Digital Art","Erotics","Art Practice"],"dc:title":["Virtual Bodies: Probing Fake Flesh"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Graduate School of Art"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Art"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:12:25Z"}