The Ill Body. Between power and rebellion

Abstract

This article examines the issue of the ill body from two perspectives which are at the same time two parts of this paper. The first one which follows Michel Foucault, concerns production of the specific type of the subject, namely the patient and includes a scrutiny of the hospital as a disciplinary apparatus. The goal of the second part is to analyse illness as a counter-apparatus which undermines any given order. I argue that power, violence, the process of subjectification and a way of eluding their moulding force are reflected in the issue of the ill body. For the ill body simultaneously is extremely vulnerable (as something that needs to be fixed) and invulnerable (because of the rebellious ‘nature’ of illness) to the apparatus investments.