History of Animals

Author: [French] Eric Baratay
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Through the cages of the zoo, we can perceive every aspect of the complex relationship between humans and nature: exclusion and obsession; the desire to exploit, dominate, and understand; an awareness of the complexity and uniqueness of various forms of life, and so on. Therefore, the story of this microcosm is intertwined with the parallel history of colonialism, ethnocentrism, and natural exploration; with the brutality in human relationships and the impact of the progress of civilization on morality and behavior; with the birth of memorial sites such as museums; with the complexity of social behavior; and also with the evolution of leisure activities. Observing the cages in the zoo is to understand the human society that gave birth to these cages.