animail: february 2017 - animal...

Animail:February2017 1

Animail:February2017DearAASAMembers,

Welcometothe1steditionofAnimailfor2017.Ihopethatyouhaveallhadalovelysummer.OurViceChairandActingTreasurerLynnMowsonhasbeeninLosAngelesrecently,attendingtheAnimalMuseumwhereherworkhasbeenexhibited(alongwithYvetteWatt)aspartoftheSPOM–SexualPoliticsofMeat–Exhibition:http://theanimalmuseum.com/exhibits/the-sexual-politics-of-meat/,curatedbyartistsKathrynEddy,JanellO’Rourke,L.A.Watson.It’sbeengreatfollowingherphotographsandreportsviaFacebookandhere’shopingshe’llwriteupareportforusfortheMarcheditionofAnimail(nopressureLynn!).

ThiseditionincludesadvertisementsforPhDfellowships/positionsattheUniversityofOslo,University ofGhent and alsoHarvard. These positions are a good indication thatAnimalstudies continues to grow, continues to attract funding and that future animal studiesscholarsaregettingtheinstitutionalsupportthatthefieldneeds. IhavebeenworkingongettinganAnimalStudiesminorupattheUniversityofWollongongandIknowothersareworkingontryingtoestablishanimalstudiesatacurriculumlevelatotherUniversitiestoo.I’mhopingthattherewillbeopportunitiestodiscussAnimalstudiesandcurriculumatthenext AASA conference in July this year. http://aasa2017.com.au. Submissions for theconference are now closed, but remember thatwe also have a scheme to support AASAPostgraduate members and also AASA members who are precariously/casually/underemployed.We’llbeproviding4travelscholarships(2forstudents,2forcasuals)whichwillinclude registration costs and also a contribution towards travel costs.http://animalstudies.org.au/scholarships Applications close March 31st. The AASA willmakethefollowingamountsavailabletosuccessfulapplicants:*Upto$1000+registrationcostsfor1InternationalHDRstudent*Upto$500+registrationcostsfor1HDRstudentfromAustralianorNewZealand.Rick De Vos has included profiles of the co-convenors of Animal Intersections – JanetteYoungandSusanHazel. Ifyouhaven’talreadymet JanetteandSusan,you’llget tomeettheminJuly–asSusansays,“IamsoexcitedthisyeartobeinvolvedinhostingtheAASAconference in Adelaide from July 3-7, aptly titled - Animal Intersections. We have awonderfulcommitteehelpingtoorganisethemeeting,andaredelightedbythenumberofabstractswe’vereceived. I lookforwardtomeetingmanyofthereadersofAnimailattheconference,andtolistenandlearnmoreaboutanimalsandhowourlivesintersect.”AreminderaboutourFacebookpagewhereyoucankeepuptodatewithactivitiesinthefieldhttps://www.facebook.com/AASA-Australasian-Animal-Studies-Association-480316142116752/andalsoareminderaboutourwebsitewithitsuptodatestreamofinformation(thankslargelytotheamazingLynnMowson:http://animalstudies.org.au/archives/category/news/call-for-papers.

Cheers,fiona


MemberProfiles

JanetteYoungHello!

I’mJanetteYoung.I’mcurrentlytheProgramDirectorfortheBachelorofHealthSciencesattheUniversityofSouthAustralia.

Iamalsoco-chairingthe2017AnimalIntersectionsConferenceOrganisingCommitteewithSusanHazelfromtheSchoolofAnimalandVeterinaryScienceattheUniversityofAdelaide.TheconferencewillbeheldinAdelaide3rd-5thJuly2017,andweareeagerlylookingforwardtoit.Informationontheconferencecanbefoundhere:http://aasa2017.com.au/

(Left)Janette,Sookie-lala,andJack(akaThunder-paws)

Myparticularinterestisinpets/companionanimalsandtheintersectionofhumanandnon-humanlivesinthisspace.Petsaretheanimalsthatmostpeoplewillhaveclosepersonalcontactwithinmodernwesternsocieties,bethatthehorsethatisriddenonaweekendforhumanandanimalpleasure,thedogthatsnugglesuponthesofawatchingTVwiththeirhuman,orthecatwemournwhenonedaywecomehomeandfindhercurleduplifelessinthesun.Thesenon-humanbeingsprovideaverypersonalisedpointofreferencethatthoseinmoredistantrelationships(wildanimalsandthoseconsumedbyhumans)donotgenerallyhave.Thisnotionofclosenesstoanothersentientbeing,andtheimpactofthisonhumanwellbeinghasbeenmycoreresearchinterest.Butthereisaneedtoencompassanimalwellbeingwithinthisframework.Myrecentresearchfocushasbeenonolderpeople,andformanypet-guardiansconcernfortheirnon-humancompanioniscrucial.Peoplemakelifedecisionsbasedaroundthewellbeingofpetsincluding(human)careseekingandaccommodationchange.Petsarepowerfulwithinpeople’slives.Petsarepresentingasafactorinsuicideprotectionandpreventionforolderpersonsinourresearch.Ignoringtheintersectionalityofhuman-nonhumanlivescanbedamagingforbothinthesecross-speciesrelationships.

ThisiswhereI’matnow,butmyinterestandsenseofconnectionwithanimalshasbeenlifelong.IhavehadanimalsthatIhadarelationshipwithsinceIwasveryyoung,notlargenumbersbutthefamilycatanddog,andsometimesbirdsorreptiles.AsIbecameanadultthedesiretosharemylifewithnon-humancreatureshascontinued,andlifewouldnotbeasrichandcompletewithoutsuchconnections.InmypastlifeIwasasocialworkerworkingincommunityagedcare,andthenworkedforthestategovernmentonissuessuchasdomesticviolence,homelessness,prisonerhealth,primaryhealthcare,educationpathways,communitycapacity,andwhateverelsecamemyway.Thisbreadthofexperiencesshapesmyinterestsinhealthasacomplexoutcomeofindividualand


societalfactors;anditwasveryearlyoninmysocialworkcareerthatIlearntthatcaringaboutpeoplemightmeancaringabouttheanimalsthattheylivedtheirliveswith.

Iaminterestedintherelationshipbetweenpetsandpeople’shealth(especiallymentalhealth)withmyaimbeingtoidentifyhow/ifwecanbetterintegratepetsintoAustraliansociety.Thishaspositivecrossspeciesimplications.Forexamplemakinghousingpolicyandlegislationmoreanimalfriendlyandputtingtheonusonlandlordstoargueforbanningpetswillreducethenumbersofpetswhoendupinanimalrescue(oreuthanised)becausetheirrelocatingguardiansareunabletotakethemwiththem.Itwillalsoreducethegriefassociatedwithanimallossonthepartofsomehumans,particularlypertinentwithregardtoolderpersonswhomaybefacedwithpetlossatthesametimeastheyareexperiencingmultipleotherlosses.

Ihavebeenwritingandpresentinginthefieldofanimals,leisureandcriticalthinking(do/shouldanimalssuchasthoseincaptivityhaveleisure?)andoftenIusehistoryandhistoricalchangestoreflectonthisintersection.Whocouldbelievenowadaysthatanimalwelfaretrumpedchildwelfareinthenotsodistantpast?Andwhatmightthisrealityofferintermsofpredictingandmaybeevenguidingfuturechanges,inparticularregardingthepositionofanimalsinhumansocieties.Itisanexcitingspacetobeexploringatthistimebothacademicallybutalsopractically,asthewaywethinkofanimalsseemstobeshiftingyetagain.WithmycolleagueNeilCarratOtagoUniversityinNZwehavetwobookcontractsfocussingonwild,anddomestic,animalsandleisurethatweaimtohavesubmittedforpublicationmid-2017.

Mymostrecentforayshavebeentostarttoworkwithacolleagueonrecordingandexploringthemultipletransformationsthatsheandherpet,nowtrainedandregisteredassistancedoghavebeenencounteringinthecontextofincreasinghumansensoryloss.ThisisareallyinterestingprojectandonethatalmosttipsintothefieldIdonotwanttobein,i.e.“therapyanimals”.Thisisbecausemyinterestinpetsisanuncoerced,(“natural’’,thoughthisisacontestedword)unstructuredhumanbehaviour.Peoplehavepets,andhavedonesoformillennia;somehowcrossspeciesrelationshipsworkforushumans.Thequestionis,how?Howdoesitworkandhowmightwerecogniseandrespond,therebyprogressingbothhumanandanimalwellness?

Iwouldbedelightedtomakecontactwithothermemberswhoareinterestedinthehuman-animalinterface,especiallyregardingpets.PleasefeelfreetoemailmeonJanette.young@unisa.edu.au

SusanHazelIworkasaSeniorLecturerintheSchoolofAnimal&VeterinaryScienceattheUniversityofAdelaideRoseworthyCampus.I’matraditionalacademic,withlotsofteachingbutalsolotsofinterestingresearchgoingon.Whichofcoursemeansthereisneverenoughtime.


Iteach1styearBSc(AnimalScience)andBSc(VeterinaryBioscience)studentsafoundationcoursecalled‘PrinciplesinAnimalBehaviour,Welfare&Ethics’.It’sgreattobeabletoteachaboutanimalsentienceandcognition,andforthemtolearnaboutanimalbehaviourandanimalwelfareatthebeginningoftheirprograms.Studentsareenrolledinasciencedegreeandoftenresentthelackofblackandwhiteanswersrelatingtoouruseofanimals.Theycomeinwithagreatdiversityofviewsonanimaluse,andwhileIdon’tnecessarilyaimtochangetheirviews(althoughthishappens)Idowantthemtorecognisethereasonswhyotherpeoplemaynotagreewiththemandbesensitivetoanydifferencesinvalues.

Left:SusanandFergus

I’vealwayslivedwithpets,andmyfirstdogkeptmecompanyandprotectedme

onafruitfarmoutsideMildura,Victoria.AftertrainingasaveterinarianattheUniversityofSydneyIfirstworkedinprivatepractice,completedaPhDinmedicalresearch,thenasascientistinvariousrolesinAustraliaandSweden,beforetakingupmycurrentjobin2006.IfeelveryluckytobeabletoteachandworkinanareaIlove:animalsandhowweinteractwiththem.MylastLabradorCillaandIvolunteeredwithDeltatovisitpeoplewithdisabilitiesasaTherapyteam,andourcurrentLabradorFergusvolunteerstocomewithmetoworktoparticipateinstudentpracticalclasses.Studentslovehimandhelovesthestudents.

Myresearchincludestryingtomeasurehowanimalsfeelthroughphysiologicalandbehaviouralmeasures.Thereissomuchwestilldon’tknowaboutanimalemotions;studyinghowanimalsfeelisavalidscientificendeavournowandtheresearchhasexplodedinrecentyears.Ialsostudytheinteractionswhenanimalsandhumansmeet,thepositiveonesthroughthedeepattachmentandlovethatpeoplefeelfortheirpets,butalsothelesspositiveones,suchasdogattacks.

OneoftheareasI’veworkedonwiththestudentsmostintensivelyisinhowanimalslearnandhowpeopletrainthem.Therearesomanyexamplesofbadtrainingtechniques,thedominancemythindogshasledtomanyabusesofpoweranddogsbeingphysicallypunishedduringtrainingfornotgettingitright.Teachingstudentslearningtheoryandbreakingdownthestepsinhowanimalslearnprovidestheknowledge,andapracticalclassinwhichstudent’sclickertrainchickensallowsthemtounderstand.Ineverexpectedthedramaticpositivechangesinattitudesofstudentstochickensaftertheyparticipatedinthisclass,andtheworkhasgeneratedmoreinterestthananythingelseI’vedone(seehttp://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/3/0386).


MemberNews

RowenaLennoxwonthecreativestreamofthe2016AustralasianAssociationofWritingProgramsPostgraduateWritingPrizeforheressay‘Coolooloi’,drawnfrominterviewswithdingoresearcherandphotographerJenniferParkhurst.Thejudgesnotedtheessay’s“fascinatingcombinationofinterview,personalexperienceandreflectiononinter-speciesinteractiononFraserIsland”andits“freshandexcitinglycriticalapproachtotheinterviewasacollaborativeform”.‘Coolooloi’willappearintheforthcomingAAWP2016conferenceproceedings.

RowenawasalsoawardedaGriffithReviewQueenslandWritingFellowshipforaproposedessayaboutherexperiencesasatouristonK’gari(FraserIsland)andthelifeofdingoshemetthere.

RecentPublications

MarcusBaynes-Rock,2017,‘HumanPerceptualandPhobicBiasesforSnakes:AReviewoftheExperimentalEvidence’,Anthrozoös30(1):5-18.http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2017.1270584

DesmondBellamy,2017,‘TreatmentofUnwantedBabyAnimalsinAustralia’,inInternationalFarmAnimal,WildlifeandFoodSafetyLaw,eds.G.SteierandK.Patel.NewYork:Springer,151-182.http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-319-18002-1

LindaEvans,2016,‘BeastsandBeliefsatBeniHassan:APreliminaryReport’,JournaloftheAmericanResearchCenterinEgypt52,219-229.http://dx.doi.org/10.5913/jarce.52.2016.a013

LesleyInstone,2016,‘LuckyandJaspergomissing:orameditationonmore-than-humanentanglements’,KudzuHouseQuarterly6(3/4).http://www.kudzuhouse.org

StevenWhite,2016,'StandardsandStandard-SettinginCompanionAnimalProtection',SydneyLawReview38(4):463-490.http://sydney.edu.au/law/slr/slr_38/slr38_4.shtml

ReportontheAustralianAnthropologicalSociety(AAS)conference-MultispeciesEthnographyandtheAnthropologyofLifeintheAgeoftheAnthropocene-UniversityofSydney,12-15December2016

Theconferenceattracted32invitedpanelsthatfocusedoncontemporarytopicsrelatingtotheconferencetheme,“AnthropoceneTransitions”.Paperswerepresentedontopicssuchasclimatechange,theCapitalocene,migration,governance,globalhealth,tourism,thechanginginteractionbetweenpeopleandtheenvironment,andmore.Theconferencegatheredtogetheracademics,earlycareerresearchers,postgraduatestudents,appliedanthropologists,andpeoplefromotherdisciplinesinthehumanitiesandsocialsciences,invitingspeakerstoengagewithconceptssurroundingthethemeoftheAnthropocene:itsprocesses,transformations,andexploitations;itseffectsonearth’secosystems;anditsimportanceincontemporaryanthropology.


Althoughallthepanelswerewellattendedandinitiateddiscussionontheirgiventheme,thepanelonmore-than-humansocialitywasconsideredbymanytobeparticularlysuccessfulintermsofrevisitinganthropologicalapproachesinthecurrentageoftheAnthropocene.ConvenedbyNatashaFijnandMuhammadKavesh,thispanelonmultispeciesethnographyincludedseven30-minutepresentationswithafinaljointdiscussionbringingallpresenterstogethertodiscussthemethodologicalchallengesofstudyingtheinteractionofpeopleinrelationtonon-humans.Thepanelwasorientedtowardfindinganexplanationtothequestion,“doesanthropologypossesstherequisitemethodologicaltoolstounderstandinterspeciessocialrelations?”

Inherpresentationonmore-than-humansocialityandongoingstewardship,NatashaFijnfromtheAustralianNationalUniversity(ANU)exploredphilosophiesofcustodianshipandstewardship,andthelivesoftwodifferentindividualsdedicatedtoconservingmultispeciescommunitiesintothefuture.Shebeganherpaperbyhighlightingtheconceptsof‘hybridcommunities’andthe‘AnthropologyofLife’,includingAnnaTsing’sapproachof‘multispeciesstorytelling’and‘more-than-humansociality’.Sheexploredtheideaofamultispecieslandscapeandhowvisualanthropologycaneffectivelyconveytheseconceptsofstewardshiptowardstheland.BypresentingtwocasestudiesfromdifferentcontextsinAustralia—avisualnarrativeofthehoppingmousefromnortheastArnhemLandandthestorytellingofeco-philosopherValPlumwood—Fijndescribedhowthereareongoingphilosophiesofcustodianshipintheprotectionofmulti-speciescommunities.

InhisstudyofwildelephantsinIndia’sRaniGarbhangaforest,PaulKeilfromMacquarieUniversitypointedouttheethnographiclimitationsinrelationtotheinclusionofnon-humans.Heraisedhisconcernsabouttheinadequacyofbothethnographicandzoologicaltools,whicharespatiallyboundedandtendtobrackethumanunderstandingtowardstheirnon-humansubjects.Tobetterunderstandinterspeciesencounters,Keilarguedforproductivecollaborationbetweendisciplines,particularlyintheformofcomplimentaryresearchfromscientistsandzoologists.

MuhammadKaveshfromtheANUspokeabouttheemotionalandexperientialaspectsofPakistanipigeonflyerswhocultivatetheirselfaroundtheircherishedbirdsandflypigeonsdespitecommunitycastigation.Thestudyoflocalenthusiasmstowardsanactivity,particularlytheconceptofshauq,heargued,canbeanimportantanthropologicalpraxisthathelpstheethnographertodeveloparelationshipoftrustandintimacywithinterlocutors,whoinreturneducatetheethnographerabouttheintricacies,specialties,andtechnicalitiesoftheirenthusiasmandtheirsociality.Thesepresentationscoheredtogetherwell,inthatallthreeresearcherswereexplicitlyengagingintheirpresentationswiththeirroleasethnographerswhenimmersedinhybridmultispeciescommunities.

CatieGressier,fromtheUniversityofMelbourne,spokeabouthowecologicallymotivatedhuntersandgatherersinVictoriaengageinanimalmoralitiestojustifytheirpractice.Shedescribedhowurbanforagersengagewiththeirlocalenvironmentaccordingtotwoideologies:sustainablelivingandrespectfulkilling/consuming.Forthesepeople,huntingandforagingarevitalfoodsecuritystrategies,whichleadtoinformantsstatingthattheyhadnoticeablyimprovedmentalandphysicalwellbeingasaresult.Gressiersuggestedthathuntingandforagingallowspeopletolearnfromtheirlocalenvironmentinordertodeterminetheirownvalues,whilestrivingtoliveapracticalandethicallife,whichinturngivesrisetoastrongsenseofcommunity.

Britishhedgehogshavedramaticallydecreasedinnumbers.Threatsfromarangeoffactorsaffecttheirpopulationeveryday.Speakingabouthedgehogconservation,LauraMcLauchlanfromthe


UniversityofNewSouthWalessuggestedthatthereisaneedforunderstandingtheclaimsofcarerswithregardtoknowinghedgehogs,bothindividuallyandasaspecies.

XavierLeendersfromtheWesternAustralianMuseumspokeaboutaprojectengagingwithconsultantzoologistswhilesurveyingendangerednorthernquollsintheWesternAustralianPilbara.Byexamininghowzoologistsmakeknowledgewithratherthanofthenaturalworld,Leenderssuggestedthatthenaturalsciencescouldbenefitfromtheinclusionofethnographicmethodsinordertounderstandthesocialpositionofnonhumansintheirresearch.

Speakingaboutthebiasedmethodologyofcomparativecognitiontestsbetweenhumanchildrenandadultnon-humanapes,primatologistRebeccaHendershottfromtheANUsuggestedthatsuchexperimentsoftenleadtoconclusionsthatdisadvantagenon-humanprimatesincomparisontothehumansubjects.Incognitivetests,sheidentifiedaclearadvantagetohumanchildren(whoarewiththeirparent,humanelytreated,voluntaryparticipants,andprovidedwithafriendlyenvironment),whiledisadvantagingnon-humanprimates(whoarekeptincaptivity,mostofthemhavingreceivedatraumaticupbringing,participatedinvoluntarily,anddruggedduringtesting).Sheconcludedthatthereisaneedforthetestingofsimilarabilitieswithtestsdesignedtokeepinmindcomparableenvironmentfactors,suchastestingprimatesinanon-captivescenario,whilestrivingtowardsequalfacilitiesinthetestingofsubjects.

Attheendoftheseindividualpaperpresentations,speakersandattendeeswereinvitedtodiscusstheirthoughtsaboutthecomplexethicalandmethodologicalquestionssurroundingtheincreasingprevalenceofanthropologicalresearchinvolvingmore-than-humansociality.Everyonewhoparticipatedinthediscussionagreedthat,withregardtothestudyofmore-than-humans,otherdisciplinescouldbenefitfromanthropologicalmethods,suchastheunderlyingfieldmethodofparticipantobservation,whileanthropologyshouldbeopentoadoptingmethodsfromotherdisciplinesformoreeffectivepracticeinrelationtomultispeciesresearch.Overall,thepanelwasasuccess,particularlyintermsoftherangeofinterestingandprovocativepresentations,includingtheactiveengagementofallpresentersandtheaudienceininitiatingstimulatingdiscussiononthisrapidlyexpandingareaoffocuswithinanthropology.

MuhammadAmjadKavesh&NatashaFijn

TheAustralianNationalUniversity

AnimalRightsinSydney(ARiS)Convenors:SiobhanO’Sullivan,JohnHadley,DineshWadiwel

AnimalRightsinSydney(ARiS)aimstobringtogetherscholars,practitionersandactiviststoengagewithanimalrightstheoryandexplorenewdirectionsforproanimalchange.ARiSis

creatingaregularspacetoengagewithbothclassicanimalrightstheoryandnewemergingperspectives.ARiSwillhostnationalandinternationalvisitorsandwillinitiatediscussionandreadinggroupsthatallowparticipantstoengagewithkeydebatesanddevelopconnectionsbetweenscholars,


practitionersandactivists.Keepaneyeoutforfutureevents-wearehopingthiswillbecomearegularfixture.

NEWBOOKRELEASESFebruary2017

Hieveryone,pleaseremembertoemailmeinfoaboutanynewbookreleases,especiallynewtitlesbyAASAmembers.Thanks!Annie([email protected])

TheGreatCatandDogMassacre:TheRealStoryofWorldWarTwo’sUnknownTragedy,

byHildaKean,publishedbyUniversityofChicagoPress,2017ThetragediesofWorldWarIIarewellknown.Butatleastonehasbeenforgotten:inSeptember1939,fourhundredthousandcatsanddogsweremassacredinBritain.Thegovernment,vets,andanimalcharitiesalladvisedagainstthiskilling.SowhywouldthousandsofBritishcitizenslineuptovoluntarilyeuthanizehouseholdpets?InTheGreatCatandDogMassacre,HildaKeanunearthsthehistory,piecingtogetherthecompellingstoryofthelife—anddeath—ofBritain’swartimeanimalcompanions.Sheexplainsthatfearofimminent

NazibombingandthedesiretodosomethingtoprepareforwarledBritonstosewblackoutcurtains,digupflowerbedsforvegetablepatches,sendtheirchildrenawaytothecountryside—andkillthefamilypet,intheorysparingthemthesufferingofabombingraid.Kean’snarrativeisgripping,unfoldingthroughstoriesofsharedexperiencesofbombing,foodrestrictions,sheltering,andmutualsupport.Soonpetsbecamekeytothewareffort,providingemotionalassistanceandhelpingpeopletosurvive—acontributionforwhichtheanimalsgainedgovernmentrecognition.Drawingextensivelyonnewresearchfromanimalcharities,statearchives,diaries,andfamilystories,Keandoesmorethantellavirtuallyforgottenstory.ShecomplicatesourunderstandingofWorldWarIIasa“goodwar”foughtbyanationof“good”people.Accessiblywrittenandgenerouslyillustrated,Kean’saccountofthisforgottenaspectofBritishhistorymovesanimalstocenterstage—forcingustorethinkourassumptionsabout


ourselvesandtheanimalswithwhomweshareourhomes.

• R E V I EW Q UO T E S JerryWhite,authorofLondonintheTwentiethCentury:ACityandItsPeople“ThisisabrillianttellingofanimportantbutneglectedstoryofBritain’s‘People'sWar.’Kean'sreconstructionoftheunnecessaryslaughterofhundredsofthousandsofpetanimalsattheoutbreakofwarwilllivelonginthereader’smemory.Butitismatchedbyhermeticulousrecoveryofthechangingaspectofanimal-humanrelationsthroughouttheremainingsixyearsofconflict.”

CarolJ.Adams,authorTheSexualPoliticsofMeat“Thisisaprofoundlyimportantbook.Likeapieceofpaperfoldedintoorigami,itrevealsnewdimensionstoatragicsubject.Itreshapesourhistoricalunderstandingbygivingusaremarkablemodelofcross-speciesinclusivity.IwanttostartreadingitalloveragaintoseejusthowKeanpulledthisoff.”

HarrietRitvo,authormostrecentlyofNobleCowsandHybridZebras:EssaysonAnimalsandHistory“BeginningwiththemassslaughterofhouseholdpetsimmediatelyafterBritain’sdeclarationofwaronGermanyin1939,Kean’scompellingaccountexploresthevariedwaysinwhichdomesticatedanimalsexperiencedtheHomeFront.Withtheexceptionofwhatcontemporariescriticizedas‘theholocaustofpets,’mostoftheseexperiencesweresharedbyhumanandnon-humananimals.Byretrievingevidenceofthelivesofindividualcompanionanimals,aswellasbydocumentingtheincreasingofficialacknowledgmentoftheirvalueandstanding,Keanoffersafreshperspectiveonwhathasoftenbeencalledthe‘People’sWar.’”

RichardOvery,authorofTheBombingWar:Europe1939–1945“ForthosewhothinkeverythinghasbeensaidaboutBritain’swar,hereisabookthatwillchangeourperspectiveonthepopularimageoftheBritishpeoplecalmlycopingwiththechallengesofthehomefront.Keannotonlybringsanimalsintothewartimenarrativeintheirownright,butchallengesthewayhistorianshavetreatedthewartimeexperience.Thisisaremarkablyrichanddetailedhistory,notonlyreconstructingtheunknownstoryoftheanimalmassacre,butintheprocessofferingaprofoundviewofthewayanimalsandhumansinteract.”

Website:http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/G/bo22091014.html


LeadersofthePack:WomenandtheFutureofVeterinaryMedicine(ePDFandpaperback),byJulieKumbleandDonaldF.Smith,publishedbyPurdueUniversityPress,2017Series:NewDirectionsintheHuman-AnimalBondVeterinarymedicinehasundergonesweepingchangesinthelastfewdecades.Womennowaccountfor55percentoftheactiveveterinariansinthefield,andnearly80percentofveterinarystudentsarewomen.However,averagesalarieshavedroppedasthisshifthasoccurred,andevenwithwomeninthevastmajority,only25percentofleadershiprolesareheldbywomen.Thesetrendspointtogender-basedinequalitythatveterinarymedicine,aprofessionthattiltssoheavily

towardwomen,isstrugglingtoaddress.Howwilltheprofessionrespond?Whatwillthismeanforourstudentsandschools?Whatwillitmeanforourpetsentrustedtoveterinariancare?Whohassucceededinthesesituations?Whoistakingactiontoleadchange?Whatcanwelearnfromthemtoleadthepackinourlives?LeadersofthePack,byJulieKumbleandDr.DonaldSmith,exploreskeythemesinleadershipandhighlightswomeninveterinarymedicinewhosestoriesembodythosethemes.Init,KumbleandSmithculloverthreeyearsofinterviewstoprofileawidevarietyofwomenastheysharetriumphsandchallenges,luckyaswellastoughbreaks,andthesoundadviceandwordsthatinspiredthemtotaketheircareersinunanticipateddirections.Bysharinguniquestoriesthatilluminatedifferentpathstoleadershipandreflectingonbestpracticesthroughcommentaryandresearch,LeadersofthePackwillallowmorefemaleleaderstocreatewiderpathwaystothetopoftheirprofession.Website:http://www.thepress.purdue.edu/titles/format/9781612494869

BecomingCentaur:Eighteenth-CenturyMasculinityandEnglishHorsemanship,byMonicaMattfeld,publishedbyPennStateUniPress,2017

Inthisstudyoftherelationshipbetweenmenandtheirhorsesinseventeenth-andeighteenth-centuryEngland,MonicaMattfeldexplorestheexperienceofhorsemanshipandhowitdefinedone’sgenderedandpoliticalpositionswithinsociety.


Menoftheperiodusedhorsestotransformthemselves,viatheimageofthecentaur,intosomethingother—somethingpowerful,awe-inspiring,andmythical.Focusingonthemanuals,memoirs,satires,images,andephemeraproducedbysomeoftheperiod’smostinfluentialequestrians,Mattfeldexamineshowtheconceptsandpracticesofhorsehusbandryevolvedinrelationtosocial,cultural,andpoliticallife.ShelookscloselyattheroleofhorsesintheworldofThomasHobbesandWilliamCavendish;thechangesinhumansocialbehaviorandhorsehandlingusheredinbyeliteridinghousessuchasAngelo’sAcademyandMr.Carter’s;andthepublicperceptionofequestrianendeavors,fromperformancesatplacessuchasAstley’sAmphitheatretothesatireofHenryWilliamBunbury.Throughout,Mattfeldshowshowhorsesaidedtheperformanceofidealizedmasculinityamongcommunitiesofriders,inturninfluencinghowmenwereperceivedinregardtostatus,reputation,andgender.

Drawingonhuman-animalstudies,genderstudies,andhistoricalstudies,BecomingCentauroffersanewaccountofmasculinitythatreachesbeyondanthropocentrismtoconsidertheroleofanimalsinshapingman.

“MonicaMattfeldexploreseighteenth-centuryEnglishmasculinityandgentlemanlyhonorfromascintillatingnewperspective—thehorse’sback.Richlyarchivalandtheoreticallyalert,thissplendidbookilluminatestheequestrianworldsofWilliamCavendish,Londonridinghouses,thehuntingfield,PhilipAstley’scelebritycircuses,andHenryBunbury’ssavagesatires,revealingahiddenhistoryofhorsesassecretsharersandhistoricalagentsinEnglishmen’sself-imagining.Amustforhistoriansaswellasanimalstudiesscholars.”—DonnaLandry,authorofNobleBrutes:HowEasternHorsesTransformedEnglishCulture

Amazonlink:https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Centaur-Eighteenth-Century-Masculinity-Horsemanship/dp/0271075775

OtherAnimalsinTwenty-FirstCenturyLiterature,byCatherineParry,publishedbyPalgrave,2017Thisbookisaboutordinaryanimalsandhowtheyareimaginedintwenty-firstcenturyfiction.Examiningcontemporaryanimalrepresentationsandthefraughtandpotentdistinctionshumansfashionbetweenthemselvesandallotheranimals,itaskshowarangeofnovelsmake,re-makeorun-maketraditionalconceptionsofthecreatureswelove,admire,eat,vilifyandabuse.OtherAnimals’detailedreadingsofhorses,ananimalisedhuman,adonkey,ants,chickensandchimpanzeesdevelopnewcriticalpracticesinLiteraryAnimalStudies.Theyexploretheconnectionsbetweenfictionalanimalrepresentation,narrativeform,ethics,andthelivesandwarmbodiesofthereal-worldcreaturesthatprecedeandexceedourimagination.Human-animalrelationshipsareconditionedbyourimaginativeshapingsofotheranimals,andbyoursenseofdistinctionfromthem,andOtherAnimalsopensouthowfictionalanimalformsandtropesrespondto,participatein,orchallengethewaysanimals’livesarelivedoutinconsequenceofhumanimaginingsofthem.

Website:http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319559315


LivesofHumansandAnimals:AnimalAgencyintheGlobalNorth,byTuomasRasanen&TainaSyrjmaa,publishedbyTaylorandFrancis,10/05/2017

Animalsareconsciousbeingsthatformtheirownperspectiveregardingthelife-worldsinwhichtheyexist,andaccordingtowhichtheyactinrelationtotheirspeciesandotheranimals.Inrecentdecadesathoroughtransformationinsocietalresearchhastakenplace,asmanygroupsthatwerepreviouslyperceivedasbeingpassiveorsubjugatedobjectshavebecomeactivesubjects.Thisfundamentalreassessment,firstpromotedbyfeministandradicalstudies,hassubsequentlybeenfollowedbyspatial,materialandanimalturnsthathavebroughtnon-humanagencytothefore.Inhuman-animalrelations,despiteapowerimbalance,animalsarenotmereobjectsbutactasagents.Theyshapeourmaterialworldandourencounterswiththeminfluencethewaywethinkabouttheworldandourselves.

Thisbookfocusesonanimalagencyandinteractionsbetweenhumansandanimals.Itexploresthereciprocityofhuman–animalrelationsandthecapacityofanimalstoactandshapehumansocieties.ThechaptersdrawonexamplesfromtheGlobalNorthtoexplorehowhumanlifeinmodernityhavebeenandareshapedbythesentience,autonomy,andphysicalityofvariousanimals,particularlyinlandscapeswherecommunitiesandwildanimalsexistincloseproximity.Itoffersatimelycontributiontoanimalstudies,environmentalgeography,environmentalhistory,andsocialscienceandhumanitiesstudiesoftheenvironmentmorebroadly.

PhD/PostdoctoralFellowshipsUniversityofOsloADoctoralResearchFellowshipin“TheBiopoliticsofDisability,Illness,andAnimalityinLiteraryandCulturalTexts”isavailableintheDepartmentofLiterature,AreaStudies,andEuropeanLanguages,UniversityofOslo.Thesuccessfulapplicant’sdissertationprojectwillexplorerepresentationsanddiscoursesofdisability,illness,andanimalityinAmericanliteratureandculture.ProposalsthatincludecomparativestudiesbetweenAmericanandotherAnglophonecultures,includingNorwayandotherNordiccountries,wouldbewelcomebutarenotrequired.Theprojectshouldengagewiththeinterdisciplinarytheoreticalfieldofbiopoliticsandintersectionalapproachestogender,sexuality,race,ethnicity,class,disability,andanimality,situatedinparticularhistoricalandculturalcontexts.Thehistoricalperiodisopen,buttheoriginallanguageoftheprimarytextstobestudiedmustbeinEnglish.ThedissertationmustalsobewritteninEnglish.http://uio.easycruit.com/vacancy/1793755/62046?iso=gbGhentUniversity–DepartmentofLiteraryStudiesJobdescriptionWeinviteapplicationsfortwoPhDpositionswithintheERCStartingGrantProject“NarratingtheMesh.”Theenvisionedstartdateforthesepositionsis1October2017,andthemaximumduration4years.Thepositionsincludefullsocialsecuritycoverageandanetsalaryofapproximately1,900€permonth.


http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AXM630/phd-positions-x2-narrating-the-mesh-ecology-and-the-non-human-in-contemporary-fiction-and-oral-storytelling/FarmedAnimalLaw&PolicyFellowship,HarvardLawSchoolHarvardLawSchool'sAnimalLaw&PolicyProgramisinvitingapplicationsforFellowshipsinFarmedAnimalLaw&Policyforthe2017–2018academicyear.TheFellowshipsprovideopportunitiesforoutstandingscholarsandlegalpractitionerstoundertakeresearch,writing,andscholarlyengagementonFarmedAnimalLaw&PolicythatfurtherstheProgram'smission.Weparticularlyareinterestedinapplicantswhoseworkfocusesontheinterrelationsamonganimalwelfare,humanhealth,foodsafety,workers’rights,humanrights,aswellasclimatechangeandtheenvironment.http://animal.law.harvard.edu/fellowship/info-applications/

CONFERENCES&EVENTS1stJune2017,King’sCollegeLondonDeadlineforsubmissions31stMarch2017‘Co-operationandConflict’Keynotespeaker:HarrietRitvo(ArthurJ.ConnerProfessorofHistory,MIT)Thisone-dayworkshopwillconcludethe2016–17programmeofeventsorganisedbytheAnimalHistoryGroup,theLondon-basednetworkforpostgraduates,academics,museumworkersandotherprofessionalswhoseworkengageswithanimalsinhistory.WearehonouredtowelcomeHarrietRitvo,whoneedsnointroductiontoanyoneinterestedinthisfield,todeliverthekeynoteaddress;shewillbespeakingonhercurrentresearchinapaperentitledAWhiffofDanger:Hybridity,Breed,andWildness.Theworkshopwilladdressthebroadthemesof‘Co-operationandConflict’withinanimalhistory.Wewelcomepapersfromacrossthethefield,exploringanyaspectofhuman-animalrelationships,whetherconcerningcompanionanimals,livestock,wildanimals,animalhealthanddisease,animalafterlivesasmuseumspecimensorartefacts,orabstractedanimalsinliteratureandtheory.Papersfromgraduatestudentsareencouraged.Speakerswillbeconvenedintopanelsofrelatedpapersbytheworkshoporganisers.Pleaseaimfora15-minutepresentationandasharedsessionforquestionsattheendofeachpanel.Thedaywillconcludewithadrinksreceptionanddinner.Paperproposalsshouldbesubmittedtoanimalhistorygroup@gmail.com.Pleaseincludeatitle,anabstract(250words)andaspeakerbiography(upto100words).Thereisnoregistrationfeeforspeakersatthisworkshop,whichisgenerouslyfundedbytheWellcomeTrust.Wewillreimbursecostsupto£150(tobeclaimedaftertheworkshop,withoriginalreceipts)fortravelandonenight’saccommodationforUKbasedspeakers,andwillmakeanequivalentcontributiontothetravelandaccommodationcostsofspeakerscomingfromfurtherafield.Thedeadlineforsubmissionsis31stMarch2017.http://environmentalhistory-au-nz.org/2017/02/cfp-animal-history-group-london-summer-workshop/


BARBARACREED-March14th-http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/power-institute-barbara-creedThePowerInstituteispleasedtoinviteyoutoabooklaunchandatalkbyBarbaraCreed,Stray:Human–AnimalEthicsintheAnthropocene.BarbaraCreed’stimelypolemicStrayexplorestherelationshipbetweenhumanandanimalinthecontextofthestray.TocelebratethelaunchthisnewPowerPolemicstitle,Creedwillbepresentingalectureexploringtheconceptofthestraythroughthevisualarts,filmandliterature,introducingtheconceptoftheanthropogenicstrayandexploringthecontradictionsitembodies.

CallforPapers:SpecialEditionoftheAnimalStudiesJournal

‘AnimalSanctuaries’GuestEditor:ElanAbrellWeseekarticlesthatconsideranimalsanctuariesasuniquesitesofhuman-animalinteractionthatbothinfluenceandareinfluencedbythewayanimalsaretreatedandunderstoodinlargercontexts.Howdoanimalsanctuariescontributetothebroaderanimalprotectionmovement,whatlimitsandchallengesdotheyface,andwhatsortsofnewmodelsforlivingwithandcaringforcaptiveanimalsmighttheyprovide?Papersmightconsider:Whatconstitutesasanctuary?Whatdoconceptslikecare,rescue,captivity,agency,freedom,andflourishingmeaninthesanctuarycontext,andhowmighttheseconceptsvaryacrossdifferentkindsofsanctuaries?Howmightsanctuariesdifferintheirapproachtoanimalcare,bothphilosophicallyandinrelationtothespecifickindsofanimalstheycaterto?Howdosanctuariesbalancethephysicalandpsychologicalneedsofanimalsagainstthematerialandspatialconstraintsofcaptivity?Howdosanctuariesdifferfrom(orwhatdotheyhaveincommonwith)otherformsofanimalcaptivity,suchaszoos,aquariums,farms,andcircuses?Whatarethegoalsofsanctuariesbeyondtheimmediatecareofanimals?Andhowarethesegoalsaffectedbyanimalneeds?Forexample,howmightthepositioningofanimalsasambassadorsforanimaladvocacyaffecttheircare?Howeffectivearesanctuariesatanimaladvocacy?Whatuniqueethicaldilemmasmightsanctuariesface,andwhatkindsofdifferentapproachestoanimalethicsinformtheirmissions?Howdosanctuariesfosterorrestrictanimalautonomy?Forexample,howdotheyaddressissuesrelatedtoanimalreproductionorspatialsegregationofanimalsthatmaybeatriskofharmorposeadangertoothers?Whatnewknowledgeaboutanimalcare,consciousness,andbehaviormightariseinthesanctuarycontext?Forexample,whatcontributionstoveterinarysciencemightsanctuariesprovide?Howdosanctuariesrespondtoissuesrelatedtoanimaldeath,includingeuthanasia,externalpredators,andthefeedingofsanctuarycarnivores?Whatpossiblevisionsforanimalfuturesmightsanctuariesprovide?

Submissionsdueby31stMarch2017.Pleaseseeguidelinesandsubmitonlineat:http://ro.uow.edu.au/asj/


ThemedIssueofImage&Text:Image&Textno.30December2017IssueEditors:DrBenitadeRobillardandDrRuthLipschitzArticlesubmission:30April2017Publication:30December2017–January2018Length:5000-7000wordsAllsubmissionsandgeneralenquiriesshouldbesentdirectlytobothoftheissueeditors:[email protected]@uj.ac.zaThemedIssue:“VisualCulturesofRaceandAnimality”

animail: february 2017 - animal...

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