Reflections on Biopedagogies and/of Public Health

Abstract

In this article, we offer an introduction to the special issue of Cultural Studies↔Critical Methodologies. First, we present some of our own reflections and, second, we provide an overview of the articles assembled here to advance the critical interrogation of biopedagogies and/of public health. Our own reflections focus attention on biocitizens and the ill-fated “rescue missions” to save bio-Others. In brief, we argue that (a) within neoliberal societies, an assemblage of private and public institutions and organizations circulate the “health imperative”; (b) this imperative leads to the creation of the fit and productive biocitizen through various market solutions; (c) this imperative leads to biomorality and the construction of the unfit, unwell, and unproductive bio-Other; (d) public health invests in rescue missions to “save” this bio-Other; and (e) public health initiatives are instrumentalized within corporate schemes to expand markets in the name of health. We then conclude our piece with thoughts on the place of cultural studies and critical methodologies in the larger project of health and social justice, while presenting an overview of the articles selected for this special issue in connection to three themes: biopedagogies and spaces, identifications, and affects/effects.