Institute of Critical Zoologists
August 28, 2010
The Blind, Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests, 2008. Institute of Critical Zoologists.
Behold the Institute of Critical Zoologists! The ICZ aims to develop a critical approach to the zoological gaze, or how humans view animals.
They say:
“Urban societies live in relative isolation from animals; however, our demand and gaze upon them have grown significantly over the last century. It is undeniable that looking at animals is considered both desirable and pleasurable in societies. Animals convey meaning and values that are culture-specific, and in viewing the animal, we cannot escape the cultural context, political climate and social values in which that observation takes place. We seek to develop a Critical Zoological Gaze that pursues creative, interdisciplinary research that includes perspectives typically ignored by animal studies, such as aesthetics; and to advance unconventional, even radical, means of understanding human and animal relations.”
Simulation of mountain top, The Real World development laboratory, Mr Toyo, 2008.
The white whale swimming in the ocean depths off the coast of Omishima, circa 1985.
Institute of Critical Zoologists
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