• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1085-1098
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• 2011

In the $21^{st}$ century, technology is a tool for the expansion of the five senses and physical ability that works as an element for posthuman identity. This study analyzes and theorizes on the characteristics of the posthuman body in fashion illustration. The method of this study analyzes documentaries about posthuman and fashion illustration. The results are as follow. Posthuman body types are classed as hybrid body, plastic surgery body, and digital body. The characteristics of the posthuman body are categorized as ultra- functional prosthetic, mythical undifferentiated, radical plastic surgery type and post-physical digitization type. The ultra-functional prosthetic type shows a restored body and upgraded functional body through a machine hybrid, cyborg suit and mannequin hybrid. It is a break from classical gender identity to form a nerve sense extension that displays physical and abstract power. The mythical undifferentiated type shows a therianthropic form, parts of an animal body, radical skin and gender bending. It represents the return to an undifferentiated world, the desire of a powerful being and the possibility of radical transformation. The radical plastic surgery type shows a photomontage of an ideal body, transgendered body, grotesque body marking, absence of partial or overall face organ and the expansion of abnormal body organs. It represents the expression of narcissism, unconscious desire, fantasy, fear and suggests an alternative ideality, sexual attachment and ambiguous gender identity. The post-physical digitization type shows an imperfect form or duplicated ego image through the omission of the body silhouette or detailed form, fragmented image using net, representative self like optical illusion using typography, an imperfect vague silhouette and immaterial body outline through the use of virtual light. It represents the lack of desire, narcissism, fluidity in a virtual space, the continued creation of a new self, ambiguous gender identity and the liberation of environment, sex, and race. Likewise, the posthuman in fashion illustration shows the absence of a species boundary, destruction of classical gender identity, a new personality and virtual self image.