Cook, Peta S., and Osbaldiston, Nick (2010) Pigs hearts and human bodies: a cultural approach to xenotransplantation. M/C Journal, 13 (5).

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Abstract

Animals have a significant presence in human lives, with many human interactions involving animals. This role of animals in social life, however, has largely been ignored and marginalised. In the words of Tovey (197), "to read most sociological texts, one might never know that society is populated by non-human as well as human animals". Human-animal relations are evident in everyday human uses of animals as companions, pets, meat sources, and entertainment. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it does demonstrate how humans create and perpetuate systems of human/animal difference which are, at times, contradictory and ambivalent. There are no consistencies in how humans view and understand animal bodies. These differences matter, as they have serious consequences for how humans view and treat animals. It also has dire consequences for animals. While humans and animals are different species, we still live together, co-evolve, and create shared histories. We are, in the words of Haraway, companion species. This exposes that animals are not just nature, but culture.

Item ID:	37439
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1441-2616
Additional Information:	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Noncommercial - No Derivatives 3.0 License.
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2015 04:41
FoR Codes:	16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1608 Sociology > 160808 Sociology and Social Studies of Science and Technology @ 100%
SEO Codes:	95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9599 Other Cultural Understanding > 959999 Cultural Understanding not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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