Heather Phillipson's Dual Publications Explore the Body as Object Through Poetry and Prose

In late 2023, Heather Phillipson introduced two distinct pieces that examine the body from various literary perspectives. The first work, 'Not an Essay,' is a 64-page fragmented exploration published by Penned in the Margins in December for £12.99. It blends prose and poetry to investigate Deleuzian concepts of bodily alienation, portraying flesh and bones separately from social and cognitive identities, with meat symbolizing views on human and animal forms. On the other hand, 'Instant-flex 718,' released by Bloodaxe Books for £8.95, takes a more playful approach, featuring collections like 'Birds in Inflexible Bird Bodies.' These poems critique societal norms about bodies, tackling everything from eating habits to fashion absurdities.