Abstract
Multinaturalism shouldn’t be viewed solely as the paradigmatic existence of multiple natures in different cultures – or “ontologies” as Descola refers to them – but also and most importantly as the syntagmatic presence, and the resulting contrast, of various ontologies within the same culture. From a semiotic point of view, then, the so-called ontologies are considered to be effects of meaning derived from precise discursive dispositifs. Describing such dispositifs is the aim of this paper.
It is possible to read Kafka’s animal stories for quite some time without realising he isn’t talking of men When one is suddenly confronted with the name of the creature -the ape, the dog or the mole – one raises one’s terrified eyes and realises to already be far from the human continent.
Walter Benjamin
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
See Marrone (2012a).
- 2.
In this regard, the work of Primo Levi is particularly relevant, in which the theme of “being human” is constituted in semantic opposition to being a “beast”: cfr. Marrone (2016).
- 3.
For a broader view of this concept and its semiotic significance, see Marrone (2011), Marrone ed. (2012b), and Marrone et al. (2016). The reference here comes particularly from Latour (1999), Descola (2005), and Viveiros De Castro (2009). An excellent anthology of texts on this theme is Consigliere (2014).
- 4.
See the Treccani online dictionary, under “animality”: “s. f. [from the latin. tardo animalĭtas -atis, der. di anĭmal «animale»]. The constitutive essence of the animal, the complex of qualities that belong to animal life (and in contrast to the spiritual tendencies belonging to humans) (D’Annunzio)”.
- 5.
There is an enormous amount of debate around this theme. For a good overview, see Cimatti (2013).
- 6.
See the well-known synthesis by Sebeok Th (1968).
- 7.
Some of these faits divers regarding the modern, problematic coexistence between humans and animals have been collected on the FB page: https://www.facebook.com/zoosemiotics/
- 8.
This is a pertinent question for the ethologist.
- 9.
The tale of the killer beating intensifies demonstrably when you mention the “33 interminable minutes” it lasted. If the exact calculation of time can’t help but produce yet another effect of the real, the adjective “interminable” is problematic: interminable for whom? For Sidony? For her son? For Anna who is watching the scene?
- 10.
In a time of “femicide”, this is a juicy new version for journalists.
References
Barthes, R. (1963). Structure du faits divers. In Id Essais critiques. Paris: Seuil.
Barthes, R. (1977). Fragments d’un discours amoureux. Paris: Seuil.
Cimatti, F. (2013). Filosofia dell’animalità. Rome-Bari: Laterza.
Consigliere, S. (Ed.). (2014). Mondi multipli. Roma: Youcanprint.
Deleuze, G., & Guattari, F. (1975). Kafka, pour une littérature mineure. Paris: Minuit.
Descola, P. (2005). Par-delà nature et culture. Paris: Gallimard.
Despret, V. (2002). Quand le loup habitera avec l’agneau. Les empêcheurs de penser en rond. Paris.
Despret, V. (2004). Hans, le cheval qui savait compter. Les empêcheurs de penser en rond. Paris.
Despret, V. (2007). Bêtes et hommes. Paris: Gallimard.
Despret, V., & Larrère, R. (Eds.). (2014). Les animaux: deux ou trois choses que nous savons d’eux. Paris: Hermann.
Greimas, A. J., & Courtes, J. (1979). Sémiotique. Dictionnaire raisonné de la théorie du langage. Paris: Hachette.
Greimas, A. J., & Fontanille, J. (1991). Sémiotique des passions. Paris: Seuil.
Latour, B. (1999). Politiques de la Nature. Paris: La Découverte.
Latour, B. (2005). La Science en action. Paris: La Découverte.
Latour, B., & Woolgar, S. (1979). Laboratory life: The construction of scientific facts. London: Sage.
Marrone, G. (2011). Addio alla Natura. Torino: Einaudi.
Marrone, G. (2012a). Stupidità. Milano: Bompiani.
Marrone, G. (Ed.). (2012b). Semiotica della natura (natura della semiotica). Milano: Mimesis.
Marrone, G. (2016). Levi analogista. Riga, forthcoming.
Marrone, G., Ferraro, G., Giannitrapani, A., & Traini, S. (Eds.). (2016). Dire la Natura. Roma: Aracne.
Pezzini, I. (1998). Le passioni del lettore. Milano: Bompiani.
Sebeok Th, A. (Ed.). (1968). Zoosemiotics. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Todorov, T. (1970). Introduction à la littérature fantastique. Paris: Seuil.
Viveiros de Castro, E. (2009). Métaphysiques cannibales. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Marrone, G. (2018). Bestiality: Animal Cultures. In: Marrone, G., Mangano, D. (eds) Semiotics of Animals in Culture. Biosemiotics, vol 17. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72992-3_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72992-3_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-72991-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-72992-3
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)