History Of Animals

AY2014/2015 Semester 1

The study of history often centers upon humans and human interests, but over eight million species of other organisms also inhabit the earth. This course provides students with an opportunity to consider the inclusion of non-humans in the writing of history. This heavy reading and research course exposes students to how various historians and academics have written about animals. A large component of this seminar is designed to facilitate student-directed learning through in-class activities, reading discussions, film screenings, and field trips where animals, taxidermied, fossilized, and live, are housed in Singapore. The issues covered in this seminar span examples from mythology to biological rarity, natural history and agriculture to scientific experimentation, to theoretical concepts about the use of animals in the humanities more generally. This demanding course allows students to think with animals to advance their studies through a historical lens. Course attendance is mandatory.