Paper Topic: Humans and Other Animals in the Nineteenth Century

While our readings have posited the relevance of animals to the study of history, their specific content has often addressed the vast terrain of human-animal relationships in the nineteenth century. For this five to seven page paper I would like you to analyze how ideas about animals and animality reflected human interests in the nineteenth century. Your comparative essay should draw upon our readings in at least two geographic areas (we have read key animal studies scholarship on England, France, and the United States) and be connected to an overarching theme, such as animal husbandry, petkeeping, exhibitions, hunting, classification, cruelty to animals, scientific experimentation, rabies panics, and sentimentality. In addressing the theme (or themes) of your choice, make sure you explore the historical "thinkability" of animals. In other words, how and why did nineteenth-century Americans, Britons, and/or Frenchmen "think with" animals? What political, social, or cultural work did this "thinkability" (and the attendant interactions and relationships with animals) accomplish?

Try to be as specific as possible in your papers, and illustrate your arguments with examples or quotations. When you use quotations, introduce them with proper transitions and analyze their meaning--do not regard quotations as self-explanatory. All quotations must be cited using parenthetical references, footnotes, or endnotes. Depth and originality of analysis, organization, coherence, clarity, stylistic smoothness, and mechanics will all be factors in determining your grade. Information about my grading standards for these papers is available in the course packet and on my web site. I will be happy to discuss your ideas about this paper either in class, in office hours or by e-mail (dmizelle@csulb.edu). To give you sufficient time to craft your essays (and to enjoy some of your spring break) these papers are due on Tuesday, April 9th. Late papers will lose five points for each calendar day late and will not be accepted more than one week past this due date without a previously agreed to extension.