Hist223 5 - Lecture notes 5 PDF

Preview

Summary

lecture notes...

Description

Giraffe Diplomacy: Zarafa, 1826 Animals as Political Tools: Historically, animals had little intrinsic value but they were important for what they represent: - fit into and fill a slot in a collection: the Catalog of Nature -Used to court diplomatic favor -its rarity and size, cuteness – its appeal in whatever form – as expression of deference, diplomatic sign of a desire for communication and a relationship Animals as Exotic, Tools for Colonialism & Empire: takes on qualities of culture where originated; Orientalism: Westerners create idea of East: Exotic, More Primitive & Closer to Nature. Orientalism tied to conquest: license to exploit, East there for westerners to consume -idea that East is wild, unpredictable, savage used to justify empire building, colonial occupation: yet, as saw in kids’ books illustrated with tigers and elephants: shifts to images of domestication: golfing, once nation secure it has colony under control: -Post-colonialism: Seek to write own histories & control own resources Animals as Historic Actors -physical animal – actor beyond our control – has its own nature – why like zoos; can’t completely destroy that -Require work, effort, and care to maintain them – change human behavior. -Also have value as symbols & carriers of meanings: Do the work of preserving ideas and don’t want to lose those ideas...