19.11.24, 19:30, Ruben Verwaal, De vloeibare mens

When scientists research the body, they usually see it as clean and whole, pure and solid, or even theoretical and fleshless. Rarely do they speak of bodies that continuously cross their porous boundaries by urinating, sneezing, crying, bleeding, vomiting, drooling, sweating, ejaculating, menstruating, suckling. So even scientists are not immune to the taboo surrounding bodily fluids. Why do we have such a difficult relationship with bodily fluids? In this lecture, Ruben Verwaal delves into the messy zones of bodies to answer this question.

Just as the juices literally seep through various places and domains, the researcher of those juices cannot limit themselves to one domain of knowledge. Studying the role of juices in culture and society requires an interdisciplinary approach with attention to history of science and medicine, material and visual culture, psychology and the history of emotions, gender and disability studies. Ruben Verwaal studies the materiality of individual bodily fluids throughout history and shows how the stigma on the leaking body is a modern invention and can therefore change again.

• Ruben Verwaal works as a curator and historian at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. He obtained his PhD in Groningen on the history of changing perceptions of bodily fluids in European Enlightenment culture. Since then, he specialised in the history of d/Deafness and hard of hearingness. In 2023, he published the public book ‘Bloed, zweet en tranen: Een geschiedenis van de vloeibare mens’ (Thomas Rap).

This lecture will take place at MIRY Concert Hall. The hall is wheelchair accessible via a lift to the first floor. A sign language interpreter is provided for this lecture. Anyone with further questions about accessibility facilities should contact the organisation: anais.vanertvelde@hogent.be. On site, questions can be put to the job student at the desk.