Theorizing Animals: Re-thinking Humanimal Relations (Human-Animal Studies)

315 Pages·2011·1.65 MB·English

by  Nik Taylor

Theorizing Animals
Human-Animal Studies
Editor
Kenneth Shapiro
Animals & Society Institute
Editorial Board
Ralph Acampora
Hofstra University
Clifton Flynn
University of South Carolina
Hilda Kean
Ruskin College, Oxford
Randy Malamud
Georgia State University
Gail Melson
Purdue University
VOLUME 11
Theorizing Animals
Re-thinking Humanimal Relations
Edited by
Nik Taylor
Tania Signal
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2011
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Theorizing animals : re-thinking humanimal relations / edited by Nik Taylor, Tania Signal.
p. cm. — (Human-animal studies ; 11)
Includes index.
ISBN 978-90-04-20242-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Human-animal relationships. 2. Human-animal relationships—Philosophy. I. Taylor,
Nik. II. Signal, Tania. III. Title. IV. Series.
QL85.T46 2011
304.2’7—dc22
2011001410
ISSN 1573-4226
ISBN 978 90 04 202429
Copyright 2011 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Hotei Publishing,
IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill NV
provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center,
222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, MA 01923, USA.
Fees are subject to change.
preface v
For the furry folk in both our lives, past and present, who have
inspired—and continue to inspire—our interest in all things human-
animal. Here’s hoping they get as much out of our relationships as we
do.

preface vii

Contents
Foreword ix
Acknowledgments xi
List of Contributors xiii

Preface: In Hope of Change: Rethinking Human-Animal
Relations?
Lynda Birke xvii

Introduction
Nik Taylor 1
PARt one
KnottY PRoBLeMs: to tHeoRIse oR not?

1 Mapping Human Animal Relations
Peter Beatson 21

2 Theorizing ‘others’
Lisa Kemmerer 59
PARt two
AnIMALs AnD MoDeRnItY
3 The Underdog in History: serfdom, slavery and species
in the Creation and Development of Capitalism
Mary Murray 87

4 Dangerous Dogs and The Construction of Risk
Claire Molloy 107

5 Ritual, Reason and Animals
Gavin Kendall 129
viii contents
PARt tHRee
AnIMAL PeRFoRMeRs

6 The Representation of Animal Actors: Theorizing
Performance and Performativity in the Animal Kingdom
Gregory S. Szarycz 149

7 The Gaze of Animals
Philip Armstrong 175
PARt FoUR
FoRwARD tHInKInG

8 Can sociology Contribute to the emancipation of Animals?
Nik Taylor 203

9 Theorising Rider-Horse Relations: An ethnographic
Illustration of the Centaur Metaphor in the spanish
Bullfight
Kirrilly Thompson 221

10 Ciliated sense
Eva Hayward 255

Concluding Remarks: From Theory to Action: An ethologist’s
Perspective
Jonathan Balcombe 281

Index 291
preface ix

FoRewoRD
This volume takes on one of the important challenges facing the
emerging field of Human-Animal studies: the development of theory
It begins with the meta-theoretical question: Does the field need
theory? what are the pitfalls of theory? Is a macro-theory, one that
provides a framework for this multi-disciplinary field, possible; is it
desirable? Can the field thrive with theory that is simply extension-
ist—that takes existing social theories and modifies them to include
nonhuman animals? what are the prospects for “hybridized theory?”
Finally, can the field develop sui generis theory—theory peculiar to
this inter-species, relationship-centered field? whether or not the
editors, taylor and signal, have succeeded in meeting these tall
orders in this slim volume, I think you will agree the questions are
now clear and on the table
Kenneth shapiro, series editor
Animals and society Institute, Inc , washington Grove MD