Noticing Entanglements

How Does it Challenge Binaries

This stuffed animal challenges the nature/culture binary. The toy is the culturally produced version of a natural animal. The binary exposes how differently we treat creatures that are real versus creatures that are fake or artificial.

If we see a grizzly bear out in the wild, well, we might not make it out of there alive. This is an example of an entanglement of what is real and fake, because we humans perceive these stuffed toys to be cute and cool and associate them with real creatures that are dangerous.

Why Representation Matters

But the truth is that animals aren't like we portray them to be. We can't label animals as good or bad. They aren't. They are much more complicated creatures than we want them to be. Humans take away the darker and more complex sides of animals. But representation matters. 

The way we currently represent them, either good or bad, distances them from us even further. We consume and are influenced by media. These narratives shape our perception of animals. They create stereotypes for animals that will affect how we actually see the real animal. Stereotypes work because they are based on some truth. But as we know with humans too, it is wrong to stereotype because it oversimplifies the greater complexities. We make a conclusion without actually understanding why.

An article from Holly Brega identifies this with "anthropomorphized" characters. In her essay, she talks about how giving humanlike traits can significantly increase empathy toward wildlife, but it also can distort public perception of real animal behavior, leading to a misunderstanding of what "normal" for an animal is. 

Obviously people are told don't go near wildlife and try to feed them. But let's also say that you are a massive Kung Fu Panda fan with hundreds of merch and toys. And you decide to go up to a baby bear and feed some bamboo. Sooner or later, an armada of bears or even just one bear will maul you to death. When representation is contrary to what the reality is, it can blur our actual understanding of animals.

We stray away from the harsh and complicated reality by going towards this idolized fantasy. The humanities course is really showing me the interconnectedness of everything. I begin to see that human culture is greatly affected by the more-than human parts of the environment, and this stuffed animal analysis shows how we humans incorporate animals into our culture. 

This perspective is also showing me, no offense to humans, how easily we act like a herd of sheep and just follow societal norms without questioning where they came from or especially why we are using animals the way we are now? Do we really love animals, or do we love the fantasized version of them?