This class looks at human-animal relations in American history. Animals have played important, yet often overlooked roles in the history of the United States. They were a crucial source of power and energy way into the twentieth century, they were humans’ companions, beloved pets, and, of course, an important food source. Animals inspired awe and fear, were disease agents and were (ab)used for representational and commercial purposes. Quite a few species have become extinct. We will discuss a wide array of case studies ranging from buffaloes on the Great Plains to salmon in the Pacific West, from the boll weevil’s disastrous work in the Southern cotton plantations to Martha, the last passenger pigeon, from “celebrity animals” like Fala, FDR’s dog, to insects and microbes. The two guiding questions of this seminar are: how clearly defined are the boundaries between human and non-human animals, and do animals have agency.
- Trainer/in: Uwe Lübken