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Bodies, Behaviors, and Adornment draws on evolutionary theory and philosophy in order to think about art, beauty, and aesthetics. Considering meaning in bodies and bodily adornment, it asks: how is meaning in our bodies constructed, through innate physical appearances and evolutionary adaptations? Does it change when we adorn ourselves in dress?

To answer these questions, Marilynn Johnson explores first how the ways we use our bodies are similar - yet at other times different - to animals. She then draws on the work of evolutionary theorists, philosophers of language and cultural theorists - Charles Darwin, H. P. Grice and Roland Barthes respectively - to explore both natural and non-natural meanings of bodies and clothes, and how both systems of meaning signify relevant information to other humans. As well as considering how the body can express natural meanings, Johnson also shows that how we dress could negatively influence the way our bodies can be read.