[Colonization and exploitation of the human body in modern civilization]

The concept of body colonization refers to the social, cultural, and political process by which the human body becomes subject to external forces-such as systems of power, economy, medicine, or technology-often at the expense of autonomy and freedom. This study reviews historical and anthropological forms of bodily transformation, as well as the spectrum of contemporary body modifications. Particular attention is given to body image and eating disorders as strategies of self-control and adaptation, to male dominance over the female body, and to the excesssive examples of medicine and the health industry. The extreme forms of bodily control seen in elite sports, as well as the exploitation of labor, illustrate how the body is treated as a primary site of performance, while transhumanism opens a new dimen sion in the technological conquest of the body. The role of civilization and consumer society is also central in sustaining control over the body. Finally, the paper outlines possibilities for the liberation of the body, emphasizing the necessity of critical body awareness and cultural reflection. Keywords: body colonization; civilizational disorders; sociocultural factors; external control; internalization.