Animals and Artists: An Exploration of Impossible Encounters

Animals and Artists explores how modern and contemporary artworks challenge traditional representations of nonhuman animals and expose human viewers to animal otherness. It argues that animals possess unique capacities that can challenge human notions of consciousness, rationality, empathy, and voice. By combining art analysis with poststructuralist, posthumanist, and animal studies theories, the book establishes a new position where differences are embraced and empathy for other live forms is raised. It appeals to a wide range of readers, including animal studies scholars, artists, art historians, and those concerned with the human-animal relationship, the environment, and identity politics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 11 October 2022
Publisher: Intellect Books

Animals and Artists is a captivating exploration of a diverse range of modern and contemporary artworks that challenge conventional depictions of nonhuman animals and invite human viewers to embrace the inherent otherness of these creatures. The book makes a compelling argument that the distinct and individualized human self, characterized by consciousness, rationality, empathy, a voice, and a face, can be subjected to questioning by nonhuman capabilities such as distributed cognition, gender ambiguity, metamorphosis, mimicry, and avian speech. In traditional philosophical discourse, animals have often been portrayed as lacking qualities that are inherent in humanity. However, Animals and Artists contends that just because humans perceive animals as negative entities, their binary opposites, and everything that they are not, it does not necessarily mean that animals lack their own intrinsic meaning. Rather, the unknowability of animals serves as a boundary marker for human thinking, highlighting the limitations of our cognitive abilities. By integrating art analysis with poststructuralist, posthumanist, and animal studies theories, as well as scientific research, Elizabeth Decentres establishes a groundbreaking position that celebrates differences and fosters a sense of unity. In the context of our current ecological crisis, Animals and Artists serves as a powerful tool for bringing readers into solidarity with other animal species, including spiders, silkworms, bees, parrots, and octopuses. Through empathy-inducing narratives and vivid imagery, the book raises awareness about the shared vulnerabilities of human and nonhuman animals, emphasizing the interconnectedness of our existence. Moreover, it underscores the transformative power of art to bring about social change, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world. This book appeals to a wide range of readers, including animal studies scholars, artists, art historians, Jean Painlevé scholars, Surrealist enthusiasts, and non-academics who are interested in exploring the human-animal relationship, environmental concerns, or broader identity politics issues. By delving into the complexities of our interactions with other living beings, Animals and Artists offers a thought-provoking and enriching perspective that challenges our preconceptions and encourages us to reevaluate our place in the world.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 177 x 251 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789386370
Edition number: New ed