Animal (Focus on Contemporary Issues)

FOCI

by Erica Fudge

From the pet that we live with and care for, to news items such as animal cloning, and the use of various creatures in film, television and advertising, animals are a constant presence in our lives.

Animal is a timely overview of the many ways in which we live with animals, and assesses many of the paradoxes of our relationships with for example, why is the pet that sits by the dinner table never for eating? Examining novels such as Charlotte’s Web , films such as Old Yeller and Babe , science and advertising, fashion and philosophy, Animal also evaluates the ways in which we think about animals and challenges a number of the assumptions we hold. Why is it, for example, that animals are such a constant presence in children’s literature? And what does it mean to wear fake fur? Is fake fur an ethical avoidance of animal suffering, or merely a sanitized version of the unacceptable use of animals as clothing?

Neither evangelical nor proselytizing, Animal invites the reader to think beyond the boundaries of a subject that has a direct effect on our day-to-day lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Erica Fudge is Professor of English Studies at the University of Strathclyde. She is also Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Cultural Studies at Middlesex University, London. Fudge was Director of Research for English, Creative Writing and Journalism there from 2011 to 2014. Her academic research focusses on historical human animal relations, with particular interest in the early modern period, and has written on the place and representation of animals in England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; on philosophical debates about animal reason and concepts of animal interiority in the period; on animal things; and, on human livestock relations. She has also published on the implications of bringing animals in to historical research. As well as this academic work, Erica has written about human animal relations in historical and contemporary culture for a wider public in her books Animal and Pets, and in the magazine History Today. She is the Director of the British Animal Studies Network, the leading network for those inside and beyond academia who are working on, and with, animals which meets twice a year and is based at the University of Strathclyde.

Reviews

[ann claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most of the reviews, this was a required book for my Intro to Animal Studies. I honestly struggled to get through this book, but Fudge did make lots of interesting points for us to think about, especially on how we view animals in relation to humans in a societal context. Although I wish she would have gone more in depth on certain claims within the book, and focusing more on how the stories and animals she talked about related to those ideas. Still a good and interesting read, even if its not something I would normally pick up

[Karl Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The medievalist will always have something to complain about: the primary materials are SO CLOSE to being deep enough, but they never quite get there. However even with bracketing that stuff, given Fudge's familiarity with Derrida's "L'animal donc je suis (à suivre)" and thus, presumably, with Derrida's discussion of the animals in Genesis, I'm curious why she gets the Genesis creation account only half right by omitting the distinction between the two accounts (as in the first, humans come last, and in the second, Adam comes first, then animals, then Eve, provided because animals were inadequate companions). Asking that she had taken account of the primordial presence of animals, the sea monsters, in the other Biblical creation accounts (e.g., Psalms 74:13) would probably be too much, but it would have been a nice touch.

This is quibbling though. The volume's an excellent introduction to animal studies for the intelligent general reader, and, since it reads quickly, it would serve well as a text for an animal studies seminar to set up the more difficult work by Derrida or the PhaenEx animals and phenomenology issue. Academic readers will encounter Fudge's Descartes and Morocco the Horse arguments in an early form, but will have the advantage of seeing these discussions put into contact with contemporary animal considerations, such as the question of sign language in primatology and the ars gratia artis of chimpanzee 'artists.' Fudge fans will be happy to encounter what must be a preview of her recent (2008) Pet book when she writes, for example, "The problem that the guide dog poses the category 'animal' is only a problem because of the category, not because of the dog" (145). Finally, critics and fans of children's literature and film will like the smart, useful discussions of animals in Wind in the Willows, Charlotte's Web, Lassie Come-Home, Old Yeller, and The Sheep-Pig/Babe and, most interestingly, a long consideration of a book on animals in film by Rudd B. Weatherwax (!), who trained Pal, the first and most famous of the Lassies.

[Chazzy Centers · Rating 3 out of 5]

i had to read this for my animal studies class, and overall i did feel like good points and information was displayed throughout the book. my only complaint is that it did seem bias at times and i’m not necessarily huge on biased books, especially regarding the topics discussed. very interesting though!

[Marijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this for my Human-Animal Studies class. I found this book really interesting and well written. Loved to read it!

[Holly Blades · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for my animal studies class and it wasn’t bad, but I felt like she didn’t always address the whole issue that she would talk about, which I thought was unfortunate.

[zozo · Rating 3 out of 5]

as i was reading for my animal (media) studies class i was met with both discomfort and curiosity in the various categories that fall under “animal” and our lived relations

[Kriegslok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erica Fudge sets out to challenge the way we construct our world and the way as humans we have linguistically created a set of truths that both accidentally and deliberately shape the way we think about and interact with the "nonhuman" world. The book is an interesting and challenging work which deconstructs the double edges of anthropomorphism drawing on a range of fascinating studies. Fudge, I think, effectively challenges the basis on which our assumption of human supremacy is made.She quotes linguist Noam Chomsky who argued that "If you want to find out about an organism you study what it is good at" whereas human tendency is to compare against human ability. Language is something that we use routinely without thinking about what assumptions we are making in doing so or walls we are building. It is easy to assume you know what you are talking about until you stop to question the origins of the words you use and how their use builds, molds, influences the world around you, usually to the benefit of someone or a group. Animal asks those questions and offers some more questions. While it looks quite highbrow the book is well written and easily accessible. One of those books that should be read by everyone but won't be.

[Angel Renae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand this book was meant to be combative and uncomfortable to read, I had no problems with these aspects, but it was the total lack of logic and reason for the arguments presented by the author that made this book an unenjoyable read. It is possible that the presentation and assertion of her arguments were what made them seem illogical and without reason, especially with those that attempted to market ideologies as the whole source of environmental disaster and disregard. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book for people because it doesn't take this topic seriously. The book read more like an ill-informed college student's attempt at explaining a poorly thought-out essay discussing the history and modern interactions humans have with animals and the environment than an author who has critically considered these topics. Fudge did not hide her bias and quite clearly displayed her distaste for humans and religion (specifically Christianity) which caused her arguments to appear irresponsible and childish (or bratty depending on the adjective you prefer).

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! When I was assigned to read this book for my Animal Studies class, I was not excited. But now I am so glad I read it! I have learned so much about the way animals live and experience their lives, or lack thereof in some cases. Author Erica Fudge is an animal lover and she focuses her book on trying to explain how animals really aren't so different from humans. Her philosophical discussions on topics like pets, animal slavery, experimentation, and even animal/human organ transplantation really made me open my eyes. Fudge has challenged my opinions on many animal matters. Any animal lover has to read this book! I would recommend this book to anyone with an open mind, to someone who is willing to change his/her opinions after reading Fudge's opinions and facts.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for my animal studies class. It was extremely thought-provoking and also irritating sometimes. But overall I'm glad I read it.