Assignment task:
What is meant by the "social construction" of animals? Discuss and explain in light of your reading of the assigned chapters for this week. That is, referencing Demello's work, start to discuss the many different ways that human societies and cultures have classified and "constructed" certain nonhuman animals based on their belief systems or economic systems, etc. Spend time discussing the theory of "social constructionism" through reference to the readings and personal reflections and observations. Now, find an animal that you personally like and identify with (e.g. what is your "spirit animal"?). For this blog, it cannot be a dog or cat, rather choose another animal (wild or domestic) instead. Please use several concepts from the study guide when writing about how your spirit animal is classified and socially constructed across different human societies and cultures.
Be sure to draw your concepts from the study guide not just the text.
Do some basic Internet research on how that animal is either revered or despised in other cultures or other places. Make sure to include in your writing its scientific classification and name (binomen) as your starting point.
Again, please use five concepts from the study guide, when blogging about how your spirit animal is classified and socially constructed across human societies and cultures.
Be sure to always underline the concepts and terms and include the page number reference from the Demello Text and include the Demello Text in your bibliography (list of cited chapters) at the end of your blog. Include all other internet sources as part of your list of citations as well.
In keeping with Demello's last section in Chapter 3, can you imagine an alternative system of classification for classifying your spirit animal and other animals? What would it look like? What characteristics of animals would be highlighted and why? What would this classification mean to people's past, current or future treatment of that particular nonhuman animal?
Remember, your essay must be long and there must be at least 5 to 10 concepts from the study guides used and applied in crafting your blog.