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- Convenors:
-
Letizia Bindi
(Università degli Studi del Molise)
Nora Schuurman (University of Turku)
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- Discussant:
-
Gala Argent
(Animals Society Institute)
- Formats:
- Panel
- Stream:
- Posthumanism
- Sessions:
- Monday 21 June, -
Time zone: Europe/Helsinki
Short Abstract:
The panel focuses on the notion of agency and the consequent rules and protocols about human-animal relationships in controversial contexts such as traditional local practices, global/national sport competitions, and leisure behaviors involving the cooperation with / use of animals.
Long Abstract:
The panel focuses on a radical critique of the notion of agency and the consequent shift in defining rules and protocols to deal with human-animal relationships in controversial contexts such as traditional local practices, but also global/national sport competitions as well as leisure behaviors and trends involving the cooperation/use of animals. Strictly founded on ethnographic studies, the panel aims at discussing: which kind of agency is today addressed and defined in human/animal relationships? which type of assertivity and sensibility are represented in the debate between traditional practices or sports events involving animals? Which type of activist movements are presently fighting against any kind of animal exploitation basing on sentient being definition and legal agency recognition of animals? The clash between different approaches to human-animal co-being imposes today the reconsideration of limits of the subjectivity, the redefinition of the anthropocentric thought about nature and animal management and control, touching some of the most radical limits of the anthropological thought and practice, reconsidering the notions of respect, compassion and culture/nature interaction.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Monday 21 June, 2021, -Paper short abstract:
The aim of this paper is to analyze public discourse that reveals the use of posthumanist attitudes towards animals for political purposes, the spreading of conspiracy theories and at the same time negating the posthumanist attitude towards animals in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paper long abstract:
The posthumanist attitude is more and more visible in Western culture, that is assumed to be a critique of anthropocentrism and which defines also new concepts of human and animal coexistence. It is sometimes used by politicians as a tool to win the favor of a specific group of voters. Slogans calling for the protection of animals and bills to ban fur farming and limit ritual slaughter are often tools in the political game for domination. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that in the face of the threat to humans with a virus transmitted by animals, the posthumanist axiology that places humans in the role of a collaborator in relations with animals, becomes useless.
In the paper we will analyse a public discourse, which reveals the use of posthumanist attitudes towards animals for political purposes (e.g. the concept of animal welfare as political blackmail), spreading conspiracy theories (e.g. banning mink farming in the context of monopoly of companies utilizing meat waste) and the simultaneous rejection of the posthumanist attitude in the face of the pandemic (e.g. mass slaughter of mink due to transmission of the COVID virus).
Paper short abstract:
Starting from different case studies the paper aims at outlining the ambivalent relationships between humans and animals in cultural practices, tourist experiences of nature, care of biodiversity and sustainable breeding.
Paper long abstract:
The paper aims at outlining the ambivalent relationship between humans and animals observed in different cultural practices. The first group of cultural practices is represented by ritual competitions in which animals are involved as cooperators of humans and sometimes exposed to injures and risks because of the activity engaged during these traditional races and practices. The second one is the use of animals in open-air sports and leisure practices such as horse-riding tourism and endurance courses during which animals are involved in potentially stressful activities though being extremely cared by owners and riders. The third one is the world of breeding at large which is increasingly representing a contested practice both by animal rights supporters than by a larger audience attentive to animal welfare and ethical food consumers. Through ethnographic accounts, participant observations notes and analysis, and in-depth interviews it will be possible to give back the huge and strong debate about animal sentience and consensus, about animal rights supporters and new vegetarian/vegan movements assertive public engagement and the position of whom considering human/animal interactions in terms of a cooperative co-existence and co-being and not as a 'speciesist' violence doubling racist and colonial yokes rooted and sedimented in domestication practices.
Paper short abstract:
In this presentation, I explore how rescue dogs imported to Finland are portrayed online and how their ‘adoptability’ is performed. I focus on stories of the dogs with often traumatic past experiences and special needs, related interpretations of their agency, and expectations on their future home.
Paper long abstract:
The transnational practices of importing homeless animals to Finland and the interest in adopting them have increased significantly during the past two decades. The charities importing them mostly operate on a voluntary basis and in collaboration with local charities in the countries of origin. The interest in transnational rescue practices derives from a critique of contemporary pet keeping culture with its current problems concerning dog breeding and puppy mills. In this presentation, I explore how rescue dogs imported to Finland are portrayed online by the charities and how their ‘adoptability’ is performed to possible adopters. I ask what kind of stories are told about a rescue dog with often traumatic past experiences and special needs regarding future care. I focus on how the dogs’ agency is interpreted in relation to their past, and expectations on their future home. The material used consists of textual presentations of dogs, collected from the web pages of Finnish charities. In the data, the dogs are presented as individuals with past experiences of abuse and neglect and, simultaneously, as attractive companions with their own interests, fears, strengths and weaknesses. They are offered for adoption as charismatic pets but, at the same time, competent carers are sought for them. The dogs’ stories reveal how the concept of ‘rescue’ is situated in the different spaces of suffering and care.
Paper short abstract:
This proposal examines the manipulation of snakes for ritual and religious ends, namely a “tradition” that some groups consider “good to think”, as well as “necessary” for the survival and moral identification of the group itself.
Paper long abstract:
Every anthropologist involved in the field of “heritage” has understood how many points of friction exist between local traditions (a form of “local law”) and the laws emanated by the state and supra-national organizations. This proposal examines the killing and manipulation of snakes for ritual and religious ends, namely a “tradition” that some groups consider “good to think”, as well as “necessary” for the survival and moral identification of the group itself. In this case, the frictions between local traditions, human rights, and the obligation to safeguard the environment that originate with international heritage (i.e. cultural assets of collective interest) conventions are macroscopic. At the same time, from a cultural point of view, biodiversity also has its reasons: there are groups whose traditions help safeguard their natural environment, although from the outside it may seem quite the opposite. In short, anthropologists are engaged in complex mediation actions between “universal rights” and “local rights” based on a profound knowledge of settings. The proposal suggests practicing this mediation through a transversal perspective. Indeed, “tradition” is not radically opposed to “innovation”, but acts as a dynamic and endlessly restructuring force.