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- Convenors:
-
Marjetka Golež Kaučič
(Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts)
Suzana Marjanić (Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research )
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- Stream:
- Home
- Location:
- VG 3.105
- Start time:
- 27 March, 2017 at
Time zone: Europe/Berlin
- Session slots:
- 2
Short Abstract:
Panel invites papers which reflect issues of animal dwelling from different perspectives (from anthropology to ecology), also in regard to the predominant anthropogenic factors that influence these dwelling environments, and how these issues are reflected in folklore and literature.
Long Abstract:
Dwelling and dwelling spaces are not only a human domain, but spaces and homes of different animals as well. From a puddle, anthill, snail house, den, hollow, nest - which are made by animals, ¬- to places and dwellings which are made by humans for animals, whether for their welfare or captivity, where animals are living free from suffering and death (such as bird houses, places for hedgehogs or badgers, lab cages, zoos, national reserves, or animal estates). Through these dwellings we can discover all the continuously different relationships between humans and nonhumans with constant positive or negative connections. On the basis of the question whether the animal only exists or dwells the panel will discuss places and spaces, about the animal geography, where nonhumans dwell and build their homes (with or without humans) and about the differences between dwelling and building.
How do we classify creations of animal dwellings, as a part of nature or culture? E.g., is spider's nest existential act or craft? Panel will try to present different animal dwellings and constantly changing relations between those who dwell and newcomers, invaders, between those who build and those who destroy, between animals and humans. Panel invites papers which reflect issues of animal dwelling (their »dwelling heritage« too) from different perspectives (from anthropology, ethnology, folklore, philosophy, ecology…), also in regard to the predominant anthropogenic factors that influence these dwelling environments, and how these issues are reflected in folklore and literature.
Accepted papers:
Session 1Monika Kropej Telban (ZRC SAZU Institute of Slovenian Ethnology)
Paper short abstract:
Presented will be forms of beekeeping as well as the migrating patterns and the changing domiciles of bees. Analyzed will be their natural nests and apiarys. Related narratives and poetic traditions will present our relation to bees and our (mis)understanding of these extraordinary animal.
Paper long abstract:
Bees are one of the rare species of insect that had been domesticated by the humans and moved closer to human dwellings. Because of the honey and wax produced by them, they have been perceived as useful and prized animals. From their natural nests created mainly in trees and hollow logs they were moved to man-made artificial hives such as skeps and trunks, and finally to the beehives known as apiaries. In the second half of the 18th century beehive panels on Slovene apiaries started to be painted, which in Europe was a unique feature, often with the aid of graphic templates.
While apiculture and the industry involving bee products have become very popular and profitable worldwide beekeeping is perceived as a true national symbol. Traditionally painted beehive panels are not only in vogue again but are also sold as souvenirs, and beekeeping has found its domicile also in larger cities, mainly on the terraces and in parks. On the other hand, however, the often harmful human intervention has also accidentally exterminated the bees in many natural habitats.
This paper, which will be presented in 2017, the year dedicated to bees, will explore historical and contemporary forms of beekeeping as well as the migrating patterns and the changing domiciles of bees. With a particular emphasis on the perspective of zoofokloristics, it will analyze the related narrative and poetic traditions in order to present our relation to bees and our (mis)understanding of these extraordinary animals.
Paula Schiefer (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science)
Paper short abstract:
Pacific salmon, migrating to return to their spawning grounds, are seen as a prototype of animals with a “fixed” home, but are rarely discussed when reflecting on animal dwellings. This paper explores how the perception of a salmon´s home – places where they belong - are negotiated in Alaska.
Paper long abstract:
Pacific salmon migrate thousands of miles from the ocean to their spawning grounds, places where they were born themselves, to reproduce (and die). Their life story can be easily related to the human concept of home, and is mirrored in several local folklore and laboratory stories originating in North America.
At the Kuskokwim River in Southwest Alaska, state and federal management regulations affect the perception of salmon homes and dwellings, as well as the idea of where this animal belongs. Subsistence fishing created a discourse and a set of values about correct fishing. Local oral history and daily practice amplify the importance of respecting salmon in order to become or stay successful in catching fish. The goal is to bring fish into the net. The net here represents more than a fishing tool. Fishing for salmon ensures fishing success for the following years; the net, and the act of catching, establishes and continues the relationship between fish and human. In contrast, fish biologists tell a different story of where salmon belong: their spawning grounds. To ensure that the set amount of salmon reach these places, fishing regulations are enforced, and salmon have to be counted. Both fishing for salmon as a subsistence way of life as well as regulations establish human-fish relations for the future, but give different meaning to it. Hence, the proposed paper will discuss what happens when designated animal dwellings are negotiated: human-fish relations are (re-)shaped and (new) salmon homes are created.
Sabina Magliocco (University of British Columbia)
Paper short abstract:
This paper explores catification, the construction of cat-oriented indoor spaces in human homes. I argue that this adaptation of human homes for cat companions is a vernacular expression of posthumanism, a philosophical attempt to de-center humans and see the world from other-than-human perspectives.
Paper long abstract:
This paper explores catification, the construction of cat-oriented indoor spaces in human homes. In many postindustrial nations, companion cats are increasingly being kept indoors, both to protect the environment from their hunting behavior, and to protect them from automobiles and other dangers. This presents challenges for both cats and humans, as certain cat behaviors (e.g. climbing, scratching) can damage home environments. "Catification," a concept developed by interior designer Kate Benjamin and animal behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, involves creating indoor environments for cats that are aesthetically pleasing to humans. Cat guardians use available materials such as shelving, carpet scraps, and natural wood to create individualized indoor landscapes that allow their cats to climb, scratch, lounge, and look out the window at nature. They can even include indoor-outdoor spaces called "catios" (cat patios) that allow cats to spend time outdoors in a protected environment. I consider whether this adaptation of human homes for cat companions is a vernacular expression of posthumanism, a philosophical attempt to de-center humans and see the world from other-than-human perspectives (Haraway, 2003, 2008), or an extension of attitudes of dominance and affection that typify Western relationships with companion animals (Tuan, 1984).
Suzana Marjanić (Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research ) Rosana Ratkovcic (University North)
Paper short abstract:
On the Croatian islands, the number of stray cats increases every year/every touristic season. Taking the example of the island Silba, we will show good practices of self-organization of the local population in the protection of the island's stray cats.
Paper long abstract:
The first part of the presentation (Suzana Marjanić) will focus on all the activist demands of the Croatian first zoo-ethicist Nikola Visković, who in his book "The Animal and Man: a contribution to the cultural zoology" (1996) noted the emergence of disturbing socio-biological process. Namely, the same rate as the rise in domestic animals, including in particular pet animals (petishism or cult of pets), the worldwide number of species and individuals of the so-called wild animals was reduced.
The second part of the presentation will be presented by Rosana Ratkovčić. On the Croatian islands, the number of stray cats increases every year/every touristic season. As pets that were brought by tourists, at the end of summer vacation, are left behind on the island. Taking the example of the island Silba, we will show good practices of self-organization of the local population in the protection of the island's stray cats. There are a number of islanders, who on their own initiative, started to take care of the abandoned cats. Recently, in the Association for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage the department of "Kitten" was initiated, which brings together the islanders and their guests, who are working together to protect the cats. Through the efforts of Peter Hillinger, Austrian tourist, a big campaign of sterilization and castration of island cats was organized to prevent the increasing number of stray cats on the island.
Bruno Beljak (Medical University Vienna)
Paper short abstract:
In a case study of rescuing homeless dogs in borderline EU Croatia shows different destinies of dwelling bussiness that arise offering a ticket to a life in EU. Can human offer a new transformative homes and accept his territory grab as a natural occasion ?
Paper long abstract:
For dogs, wandering, being homeless is a natural process of finding food, procreation and defining future "home". Dogs accept owners feelings and society they dwell in, they also accept feelings for what humans call home.
There is no such thing as a free home - many homeless dogs would say. In EU /non EU border countries, not only people migrate, crossing borders, but animals do too - pets without home. In Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia, homeless dogs wait for their ticket to a better life, a life in EU.
Dogs without owners wait in line for different jobs, from translational research as medical dummies, sex toys, to child replacement or a new family member. EU is a big market.
If they are lucky, they will get a garden and a sand to play in Germany or Netherlands, but there is a thin line between finding home, saving a dog, and sending a dog and selling it.
In case study of rescuing animals in borderline EU Croatia to different destinies of dwelling bussiness I will try to answer the following research questions. Is there a "homeless" animal ? Is home worth it ? Can animal own ? Is defining unnatural home to animals a good cultural practice or a slavery ? Can human accept his territory grab as a natural occasion ?
Sanna Lillbroända-Annala (Åbo Akademi University)
Paper short abstract:
Stray animals are often considered a problem in cities across the world. In this paper, the strays living in the town of Rhodes, Greece are discussed in relation to their dwelling place and right to it from my experiences of charity work and with reference to the 21st century animal right discourse.
Paper long abstract:
Stray animals are generally considered as a problem and or as a non-existing factor, especially in towns and cities across the world. This attitude runs back to the idea of them being homeless, filthy and unhealthy, i.e. as trash nobody should touch or care about. Many European countries are known for having a large population of stray cats and dogs living in both towns, cities and in the countryside. In this paper, the stray animals living in the town of Rhodes, Greece are discussed in relation to their dwelling place and right to it. The town of Rhodes and the villages accommodate approximately 20 000 stray cats. Stray dogs live in the villages but are often being abandoned in the city. The number of stray dogs is not as high as the number of stray cats. Due to the economic crises in Greece, the number of homeless animals in Rhodes is expanding. In the paper, the current and future conditions of stray animals are presented and discussed according to my own experiences of charity work among the animals, as well as in reference to the 21st century animal right discourse. Questions of who claims the city space and what kind of a role stray animals play or don´t play in the space is addressed. My paper also focuses on questions of urban decay, co-existence and animal wellbeing.
Rahel Laura Vesik (Estonian Literary Museum)
Paper short abstract:
This presentation talk about the relationships between dogs and humans in Japan and its media coverage. I will analyze different story-lines about Hachikō and how the story has spread in transmedia and how it relates to reality.
Paper long abstract:
This presentation talk about the relationships between dogs and humans in Japan and its media coverage. The true story took place in the 1920s and 1930 with a dog called Hachikō (ハ チ 公)'. Hachikō story has been made into a number of films, theatre plays and been written into variety of books (about 500 different editions). Hachikō and his masters story belong to the main narratives of postwar Japan. In the presentation I will analyze different story-lines about Hachikō and how the story has spread in transmedia and how it relates to reality. Additionally how people viewed the Hachiko's story in the 1920s and nowadays.
Mare Kõiva (Estonian Literary Museum)
Paper short abstract:
This paper aims to discuss the relations between nonhumans (city birds) and humans using materials of two different groups. The research analyzes the importance and hardness of relationships and demonstrates changes influenced by wild birds invading cities and hidden sides of nonhuman life
Paper long abstract:
This presentation views different types of communication between nonhumans (city birds) and humans, how their relationship has changed and developed. In the recent 100 year there has been many common habitudes towards birds, like feeding them in the winter or building houses for them, etc. The paper analyzes what kind of changes caused by the wild birds moving to the city environment, changes in cultural views and possibility to have a look on hidden side of nonhuman life. The second aim is to analyze how humans operate with terms like good or bad, pleasant, content, indignation, etc. which demonstrates complicated emotions.
Marjetka Golež Kaučič (Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts)
Paper short abstract:
The paper presents two viewpoints on animals and their homes and dwellings, based on the folkloristic, anthropological, philosophical, and ecocritical findings as they are thematized in the works of Fran Erjavec, Richard Adams, and Iztok Geister.
Paper long abstract:
The paper presents two viewpoints on animals and their homes and dwellings, based on the folkloristic, anthropological, philosophical, and ecocritical findings. These are the anthropocentrical and ecocritical view as they are presented in the works of Fran Erjavec (Depictions of domestic and foreign animals, 1868-1873), Richard Adams (Watership Down, 1972), and Iztok Geister (Nature, as seen by nature, 2010). A deep analysis of these works will provide an insight into the question of anthropomorphization. Through mostly realistic thematizations of animals and their dwellings in those works, I try to establish whether we can classify those dwelling as a part of nature or culture, e.g. is badger's burrow an architectonic masterpiece or merely an existential act based on instinct (von Uexküll 1957, Von Frish 1975). The starting-point of the presented paper is the premise that non-human animals have their own subjectivity which reflects through their dwellings and construction of their homes (Ingold 2000). In all three works, constant human and non-human encounters can be established just by observing different animal dwellings, which can be either preserved or destroyed by human.
Branislava Vičar (Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor)
Paper short abstract:
The paper examines the oppressive power relations (re)produced in housing systems for cows exploited for their milk. Since more 'humane' environments are associated with profitability as the key axiom of new capitalism, vegan animal sanctuaries liberate cows from exploitative conditions.
Paper long abstract:
The paper examines the oppressive power relations (re)produced in housing systems for cows exploited for the milk they produce. Around the world cows raised for milk, in speciesist language devalued as 'diary' cows, are kept in different housing systems and herd sizes ranging from just a few to thousands. I argue that all those spaces presuppose hierarchical relations and exercise power in a form of economic exploitation which always involves the use of force, since the reproductive capacity of cows is manipulated for human needs and »their milk, naturally intended for their calves, is turned into profit« (Nibert 2016: 74). I support this claim by critically examining the way power is figured in texts about housing systems for enslaved and exploited cows. I compare the texts about the most oppressive housing system which completely deprive cows of freedom of movement, ie. tied housing, with the texts about 'better' built environment in the so called loose housing. I suggest 'better' is defined in terms of capitalist goals, such as the production cost of milk. New capitalism is practiced in using language to accentuate 'better conditions' to soften or conceal the working of power. The paper exposes the only existing alternative to oppressive relations, ie. farmed animal sanctuaries, where cows are liberated from exploitative conditions, and consider these spaces as an integral part of vegan practice.