Metamorphoses of the Zoo Animal Encounter after Noah

by Acampora, Ralph R.; Pedersen, Helena; Dian, Natalie; Chrulew, Matthew; Wlech, Jennifer; Acampora, Ralph; Mazur, Nicole; Margodt, Koen; Kemmerer, Lisa; Rollin, Bernard; Malamud, Randy; Bulbeck, Chilla; Fawcett, Leesa; Warkentin, Traci; Lulka, David; Bradsh

• ISBN13: 9780739134542
• ISBN10: 073913454X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-06-14
• Publisher: Lexington Books

Summary

Metamorphoses of the Zoo: Animal Encounter After Noah is a volume dedicated to radically transformative approaches to spaces set aside as zoological parks or gardens. Historically, these establishments served as symbols of power and venues for entertainment, but today, they have taken to portraying themselves as flagships of environmental education, scientific research, and wildlife conservation. Along with the past century's turn in exhibition design toward increasingly naturalistic architecture, such portrayals have been received by many in an uncritically positive light. At the same time, it remains clear that zoos are immensely popular attractions, drawing hundreds of millions of visitors globally per year. This level of participation is consistent with the suggestion that humans harbor a strong sense of biophilia, one which moves them to seek out diverse life-forms when their own territories become too biologically homogenous; from such a vantage, it is no accident that zoos are most often situated in urban(izing) areas. Metamorphoses of the Zoo emphasizes creative and reconstructive analyses of zoos that do not simply advocate marginal reform or quick abolition. By focusing on issues such as interspecies progress and eco-psychological health, this unique collection will satisfy those in disciplines ranging from ecophilosophy to humanistic psychology to environmental studies.

Author Biography

Ralph R. Acampora is currently an associate professor at Hofstra University. He has previously authored Corporal Compassion: Animal Ethics and Philosophy of Body coedited A Nietzchean Bestiary: Becoming Animal Beyond Docile and Brutal with Christa Davis Acampora.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Introduction-Off the Ark: Restoring Biophilia	p. 1
Zoos as Welfare Arks? Reflections on an Ethical Course for Zoos	p. 11
Nooz: Ending Zoo Exploitation	p. 37
Through a Frame Darkly: A Phenomenological Critique of Zoos	p. 57
Beyond Zoos: Marianne Moore and Albrecht Dürer	p. 67
Respectful Stewardship of a Hybrid Nature: The Role of Concrete Encounters	p. 83
Whale and Human Agency in World-Making: Decolonizing Whale-Human Encounters	p. 103
Boring a Wormhole in the Zoological Ark	p. 123
Open Door Policy: Humanity's Relinquishment of ôRight co Sightö and the Emergence of Feral Culture	p. 151
Earth Trusts: A Quality Vision for Animals?	p. 171
From Zoo to Zoöpolis: Effectively Enacting Eden	p. 193
Zoöpolis	p. 221
Inventionist Ethology: Sustainable Designs for Reawakening Human Animal Interactivity	p. 245
Afterword: Following Zootopian Visions	p. 257
Index	p. 263
About the Contributors	p. 267
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.