Re Framing Animal Lives Palgrave Studies In Animals And Literature: Exploring the Intersection of Animals and Literature

When it comes to understanding our relationship with animals, literature has played a crucial role in shaping our perceptions. From ancient fables and moral tales to contemporary novels and poems, writers have often explored the complexities of human-animal connections, prompting readers to re-evaluate their understanding of non-human lives. One notable publication that delves into this intersection is "Re Framing Animal Lives: Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature." In this article, we will explore the significance of this collection and delve into some key themes and contributions.

The Significance of "Re Framing Animal Lives: Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature"

Edited by Susan McHugh, Robert McKay, and John Miller, "Re Framing Animal Lives: Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature" is an interdisciplinary collection that examines the representation of animals in literature through diverse lenses. This collection brings together essays from various scholars, allowing readers to gain insights into the multifaceted relationships between humans and animals.

The book not only explores the historical context of animal representation in literature but also addresses contemporary perspectives and concerns. By doing so, it prompts readers to reflect on their own attitudes and assumptions about the lives of animals. With contributions from experts in fields such as literary studies, anthropology, philosophy, and environmental studies, "Re Framing Animal Lives" offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of animal lives in literature.

Animal Biography: Re-framing Animal Lives (Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature)

by Amal M Nassir (1st ed. 2018 Edition, Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3059 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	286 pages
Paperback	:	28 pages
Item Weight	:	4.3 ounces
Dimensions	:	8.5 x 0.07 x 11 inches

FREE

Key Themes Explored in "Re Framing Animal Lives"

1. Animals as Literary Characters: This section analyzes how animals are represented as characters in literature. It examines the various roles animals play, from companions and symbols to subjects of investigation and transformation.

2. Animal Agency: The collection also highlights the agency and autonomy of animals in literature, challenging traditional notions that animals are mere passive objects of human actions. It explores how animals assert their own will, desires, and intentions within literary narratives.

3. Ethics and Animal Welfarism: This theme delves into the ethical considerations surrounding our treatment of animals and how literature reflects and influences our perceptions. It raises questions about animal rights, animal exploitation, and the consequences of anthropocentrism.

4. Human-Animal Bonds: "Re Framing Animal Lives" also examines the emotional and social connections between humans and animals. Through literary analysis, it explores how these bonds are formed, tested, and explored, offering valuable insights into our own relationships with animals.

Contributions and Case Studies

"Re Framing Animal Lives" features a plethora of case studies and contributions from prominent scholars in the field. Some notable essays include:

1. "Animal Autobiographies: Stories of Non-human Lives" by Richard Nash

In this thought-provoking essay, Nash explores the concept of animal autobiographies, where animals become narrators, providing insights into their own subjective experiences. By examining different literary works, Nash highlights how animal narrators challenge our understanding of animal lives and subjectivity.

2. "Animal Kinship in Indigenous Literature" by Kim Anderson

Anderson's essay delves into the representation of animal kinship in Indigenous literature. By analyzing texts from Indigenous authors, Anderson explores the unique and complex relationships Indigenous communities have with animals, emphasizing the importance of cultural perspectives in understanding animal lives.

3. "Animal Characters as Agents of Resistance" by Kerry Mallan

Mallan's essay examines how animal characters in literature can disrupt and resist dominant power structures. Through the analysis of popular children's literature, Mallan demonstrates how animal characters challenge social norms and advocate for justice, diversity, and equality.

The Impact and Implications

"Re Framing Animal Lives: Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature" contributes significantly to the ongoing conversation about our relationship with animals. By examining the representation of animals in literature, the collection prompts readers to re-evaluate their perception of animals as well as their ethical responsibilities towards them.

Through nuanced and innovative essays, this collection challenges the traditional hierarchy that places humans above animals and urges readers to consider alternative ways of interacting with and understanding non-human lives. It provides a platform for interdisciplinary discussions and offers insights that extend beyond academic boundaries and into real-world applications.

"Re Framing Animal Lives: Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature" is a groundbreaking collection that explores the intersection of animals and literature. Through a range of essays and case studies, it challenges our assumptions about animal lives, prompting readers to re-evaluate our relationships with non-human beings. This collection offers a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics between humans and animals.

Animal Biography: Re-framing Animal Lives (Palgrave Studies in Animals and Literature)

by Amal M Nassir (1st ed. 2018 Edition, Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3059 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	286 pages
Paperback	:	28 pages
Item Weight	:	4.3 ounces
Dimensions	:	8.5 x 0.07 x 11 inches

FREE

While historiography is dominated by attempts that try to standardize and de-individualize the behavior of animals, history proves to be littered with records of the exceptional lives of unusual animals. This book introduces animal biography as an approach to the re-framing of animals as both objects of knowledge as well as subjects of individual lives. Taking an interdisciplinary perspective and bringing together scholars from, among others, literary, historical and cultural studies, the texts collected in this volume seek to refine animal biography as a research method and framework to studying, capturing, representing and acknowledging animal others as individuals. From Heini Hediger’s biting monitor, Hachikō and Murr to celluloid ape Caesar and the mourning of Topsy’s gruesome death, the authors discuss how animal biographies are discovered and explored through connections with humans that can be traced in archives, ethological fieldwork and novels, and probe the means of constructing animal biographies from taxidermy to film, literature and social media. Thus, they invite deeper conversations with socio-political and cultural contexts that allow animal biographies to provide narratives that reach beyond individual life stories, while experimenting with particular forms of animal biographies that might trigger animal activism and concerns for animal well-being, spur historical interest and enrich the literary imagination.