Animal studies: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 21:23, 17 January 2010

Animal studies^[1] is a relatively new academic field that examines the complex and multidimensional relationships between nonhuman and human animals^[2]. It includes scholars from sociology, biology, veterinary medicine, health science, social work, art history, anthropology, film studies, history, environmental studies, psychology, literary studies, geography, political science, religious studies, philosophy, women's studies, gender studies, and ethnic studies. The field remains largely undefined and does not have any predominant or unifying approaches to study.

Example Areas of Study

The social construction of animals and what it means to be animal
The zoological gaze
The human-animal bond
Parallels between human-animal interactions and human-technology interactions
The symbolism of animals in literature and art
The history of animal domestication
The intersections of speciesism, racism, and sexism
The place of animals in human-occupied spaces
The religious significance of animals throughout human history
Exploring the cross-cultural ethical treatment of animals

Example papers from Society & Animals include:

"Placing the Wild in the City:'Thinking with' Melbourne’s Bats" (Thomson 2007)

"More Than a Furry Companion: The Ripple Effect of Companion Animals on Neighborhood Interactions and Sense of Community" (Wood et al. 2007)

"Engaging the Animal in the Moving Image" (Porter 2006)

"Hunting and Illegal Violence Against Humans and Other Animals: Exploring the Relationship" (Flynn 2006)

"Between Ideals, Realities, and Popular Perceptions: An Analysis of the Multifaceted Nature of London Zoo" (Ito 2006)

Related Authors

Kenneth Shapiro
Arnold Arluke
Jennifer Wolch
Donna Haraway
Steven Baker
Tom Beauchamp
Lynda Birke
Stephen R. L. Clark
Jonathan Burt
Marion Copeland
Joan Dunayer
Jody Emel
Clifton P. Flynn
Phillip Armstrong

Scholarly and Academic Journals

Society & Animals
Anthrozoös
Humanimalia
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
Journal of Animal Law & Ethics

Criticism

Because animal studies is not a unified theory but a diverse array of study, there are various approaches, methodologies, and perspectives (academically and politically). It initially originated as an academic response to Peter Singer's Animal Liberation. ^[3] However, there are recent studies that deviate from this initial focus. Some scholars have criticized the increase in the number of non-ethical and apolitical discourses of animal studies in the social sciences and humanities.^[4] As a result, a group of professors, graduate students, and independent scholars within animal studies felt there was a need for a critical animal studies to address more fully animal exploitation and oppression, with the overall goal leading to abolition and liberation.^[5] This critical approach was modeled in the likeness of interdisciplinary studies such as feminist theory and critical race theory, in that it seeks to align theory and praxis.

Notes

^ The phrase human-animal studies is often used synonymously with animal studies to distinguish between the study of human-animal relationships from the use of animals in laboratory sciences.
^ [1] Animals & Society Institute
^ [2] "It's Academic: The Growing Field of Animal Studies" by Kenneth Shapiro and Jill Howard Church, 2000
^ The basis of their argument stems from publications in Society & Animals and discussions on the listservs H-Animal H-Animal and H-Nilas H-Nilas. Both of these listservs are part of H-Net, a network for the social sciences and humanities.
^ [3] About critical animal studies. Institute for Critical Animal Studies

External links

[1] The phrase human-animal studies is often used synonymously with animal studies to distinguish between the study of human-animal relationships from the use of animals in laboratory sciences.

[2] [1] Animals & Society Institute

[3] [2] "It's Academic: The Growing Field of Animal Studies" by Kenneth Shapiro and Jill Howard Church, 2000

[4] The basis of their argument stems from publications in Society & Animals and discussions on the listservs H-Animal H-Animal and H-Nilas H-Nilas. Both of these listservs are part of H-Net, a network for the social sciences and humanities.

[5] [3] About critical animal studies. Institute for Critical Animal Studies

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{otheruses4|the academic discipline of Animal Studies|scientific studies using animals as test subjects|Animal testing}}
-'''Animal studies'''<ref>The phrase '''human-animal studies''' is often used synonymously with animal studies to distinguish between the study of human-animal relationships from the use of animals in laboratory sciences.</ref>is a relatively new academic field that examines the complex and multidimensional relationships between nonhuman and human animals<ref>[http://www.animalsandsociety.org/content/index.php?pid=41] Animals & Society Institute</ref>. It includes scholars from [[sociology]], [[biology]], [[veterinary medicine]], [[health science]], [[social work]], [[art history]], [[anthropology]], [[film studies]], [[history]], [[environmental studies]], [[psychology]], [[literary studies]], [[geography]], [[political science]], [[religious studies]], [[philosophy]], [[women's studies]], [[gender studies]], and [[ethnic studies]]. The field remains largely undefined and does not have any predominant or unifying approaches to study.
+'''Animal studies'''<ref>The phrase '''human-animal studies''' is often used synonymously with animal studies to distinguish between the study of human-animal relationships from the use of animals in laboratory sciences.</ref> is a relatively new academic field that examines the complex and multidimensional relationships between nonhuman and human animals<ref>[http://www.animalsandsociety.org/content/index.php?pid=41] Animals & Society Institute</ref>. It includes scholars from [[sociology]], [[biology]], [[veterinary medicine]], [[health science]], [[social work]], [[art history]], [[anthropology]], [[film studies]], [[history]], [[environmental studies]], [[psychology]], [[literary studies]], [[geography]], [[political science]], [[religious studies]], [[philosophy]], [[women's studies]], [[gender studies]], and [[ethnic studies]]. The field remains largely undefined and does not have any predominant or unifying approaches to study.
 == Example Areas of Study ==