Abstract In this presentation, I focus on the analysis of animal agency in the 1970 – short story „Aquário (Nápoles)“ (Aquarium (Naples)) by Brazilian writer João Guimarães Rosa. In this story, the narrator describes a moment observing one octopus in an aquarium in the city of Naples, specifically: how the animal acts after being poked […]
Abstract According to ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, the appropriateness of an animal’s environment—including not only the locale and resources, but also the existence of and company of others—is important for the animal’s survival and essential for the animal’s chance at thriving. In my presentation, I will consider the octopus world vis-a-vis Aristotle’s biological sources, exploring […]
Abstract In “Why look at Animals?” John Berger asked in his famous essay from 1977, in which he analysed the estrangement of humans and animals in the culture of capitalism. His criticism of the zoo as a place in which non-human animals are reduced to exhibition objects is still read and shared today. Interestingly, aquariums […]