Representing Animals: Texts and Theory

DozentIn: Dr. phil. Anja Höing, M.Ed.

Veranstaltungstyp: Seminar

Ort: 15/133

Zeiten: Fr. 10:15 - 11:45 (wöchentlich)

Beschreibung: This is a V1 Cultural Studies course also open as the "literary and cultural studies" part of the I-Module

In the second decade of the twenty-first century, scholars in the humanities have suddenly become interested in the representation of non-human animals in human cultural productions; some have even spoken of an “animal turn” in cultural studies. While this interest was sparked by Ecocritics, it has now developed a profound life of its own, and has given rise to a multitude of interdisciplinary schools to engage with the topic, each bringing their unique theoretical perspective to the issue of how we, from our (necessarily?) human perspective, represent non-humans and envision our relationship with other animals.

In this seminar, we will approach the lively discussion on the representation of non-human animals from two directions in particular: theory, and texts. We will read major voices in ecocritical, posthumanist and animal studies theory and align these with a look into the writing traditions most profoundly concerned with the representation of animals, e.g. children’s literature, advertisement, etc.

Students will be required to
- read extensive and theoretically challenging texts in preparation for each session
- participate actively and regularly, both in the sessions and in the course Wiki
- „Studiennachweis“: short presentation on an "animal studies" concept
- write a term paper (details on requirements will be announced in the first session)

Reading materials for each session are either accessible in the University Library or will be made available on Stud.IP. Further material will be distributed in class and/ or made available online. Check Stud-IP for updates, announcements, and changes!

zur Veranstaltung in Stud.IP