Blubbering on: representations of whale identity in literature, film, and science

Abstract

Representation of nonhuman animals is a complex and multifaceted subject. Through the act of representation, it is important for us to consider the impact humans have on constructing the identity of nonhuman animals. Due to the variety of ways humans engage in the act of representation, this project looks at how three representative modes (literature, film, and science) shape our understanding of whales and construct a whale’s identity in the process. The study is based on a human-animal studies framework and uses Vinciane Despret’s notion of agencement to deal with the subject of nonhuman identity.