The Ventriloquist's Burden? Animals, Voice, and Politics
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THE VENTRILOQUIST’S BURDEN? ANIMALS, VOICE, AND POLITICS LAUREN E. J. CORMAN A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, ONTARIO June 2012 © Lauren E. J. 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Canada A bstract Voice is a significant metaphor within national and international animal rights and liberation movements, including in their associated literatures. Phrases such as the “voice of the voiceless,” for example, are ubiquitous. Despite heavy reliance on the trope, however, little scholarship exists about the meanings of voice within the movements. Concurrently, critics charge activists with arrogantly representing nonhuman animals while remaining woefully detached from their material lives. Such condemnation is well summarized by Richard Horwitz who accuses animal rights activists of adopting the “ventriloquist’s burden,” a phrase that invokes Rudyard Kipling’s poem “The White Man’s Burden,” which helped frame U.S. imperialism as a noble pursuit. While some within the movements challenge those who claim to be animals’ voices and to speak for “those who cannot speak for themselves,” there is a dearth of sustained and rigorous discussion about these suppositions. Drawing primarily on feminist, animal rights, and posthumanist theory, I employ critical discourse analysis to explore metaphorical uses of voice within a larger investigation of the politics of representation, particularly in relation to the question of “speaking for” animals. I centrally posit that a nuanced analysis of voice is necessary to more adeptly navigate the difficult terrain of animal representation. First, I show the failure of identity politics to address the problems of voice and representation within the animal movements. Second, I trace the development of voice within feminist theory and critical pedagogy, two major sets of discourses that have profoundly shaped the voice metaphor, in order to detail contemporary meanings of political voice. I conclude that the dynamics of political voice (including subjectivity, relationality, experiential knowledge, and resistance) are all deeply informed by humanism. Third, in relation, I examine the ways in which Western understandings of both politics and voice are crucially defined by interpenetrating ideas about humanity and animality. I then investigate how anthropocentric understandings of voice are both reproduced and challenged by the animal movements. Last, alongside a critique of Donna Haraway’s work on “companion species,” I consider how certain activists disentangle the dynamics of political voice from legacies of humanism in order to foreground animal voices. Dedication Dedicated to Mark Karbusicky (1972-2007) Acknow ledgem ents I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Cate Sandilands, my outstanding Ph.D. Advisor and Dissertation Supervisor. Her unfaltering support and skilled guidance helped me find my voice in the most profound way. It was a tremendous honour to work with such a brilliant scholar and wise mentor. Thank you to members of my excellent Ph.D. Advisory Committee: Harriet Friedmann, Roger Keil, and Leesa Fawcett. 1 would also like to thank Leesa Fawcett and John Sorenson, members of my Dissertation Supervisory Committee. Their feedback was invaluable. Leesa’s influence, in particular, on my scholarship was enormous throughout my graduate studies. She taught me about animals in ways that deeply affected me and continue to touch all of my scholarship. I would like to extend my appreciation to my Defense Committee: Greta Gaard, Leesa Fawcett, Joan Steigerwald, John Sorenson, Peter Timmerman, and Cate Sandilands. I would also like to thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for awarding me a Doctoral Fellowship. Thank you to the entire Faculty of Environmental Studies, especially the administrative staff. Thank you to my dear friend, Jane Marion, who made completing this work possible. You are my heart. Special thanks to the intrepid Rebekka Augustine for her incredible attention to detail and vast copy-editing superpowers. Thank you to my supportive family: Cary Hamilton, Sean Corman, Barry Hamilton, Emmalee Hamilton, Alexis Hamilton, Julian, Frank, and Kristy. Thank you to my wonderful friends and colleagues: Krishna Mercer, Sarah Pinder, Nicola Brown, Francisca Lanthier, Connie Russell, Sherri Manko, Bruce Erickson, Bevin Shores, Dino Paoletti, Mark Karbusicky, Catherine Brigantino, Lisa Kretz, Ebru Ustundag, Sue Sinclair, Jacqueline Kennedy, Mike Hoolboom, Jill DiTillio, Dylan Powell, Nadine Flagel, Siue Moffat, Susan Moore, Jodey Castricano, Jenny Kerber, Jeannette LeBlanc, Graeme Scott, Shauna Pomerantz, Jon Eben Field, Michelle Webber, Greg Jackson, Gail Mooney (Auntie Mooney), Ken Bjomson, Neil Harvey, Erin O’Sullivan, Jaimie Godard, Keri Cronin, Laurie Morrison, Daria Richards, Brian Gasbarini, Kelsey Cheslock, Terrance Luscombe, Joanna Adamiak, Karol Orzechowski, Zofia and Wojciech Orzechowski & Family, Traci Warkentin, Kevin Tillman, Pablo Bose, Rich Oddie, Kerianne Dechamais, Wade Hunt, Kyle Paton, Rob MacNinch, Lamia Gibson, Nadja Lubiw-Hazard, Michael Smith, Peter Pritchard, Jan Oakley, Piotr Pawlowski, Lenore Newman, Shannon Blatt, Dennis Soron, Mary-Beth Raddon, Nancy Cook, Kate Bezanson, Jonah Butovsky, Jane Helleiner, Linda Landry, Elizabeth Maddeaux, Julia Gottli, Viola Bartel, Jill DeBon, Tamari Kitossa, Ifeanyi Ezeonu, Margot Francis, Kevin Gosine, Hijin Park, Janet Conway, Ann Duffy, Nikita Cox, Sara McLean, Ray Godin, Cheryl Koller, Dane Clark, Adam Weitzenfeld, Mirha-Soleil Ross, Ken Stowar, Andrew Chambers, Denver Nixon, Steve Romanin, Helen Pracnic, Levi Waldron, Brandy Humes, Richard Brooks, Tim Leduc, Christina Lessels, Cary Wolfe, Anthony Nocella II, Sarat Colling, Steve Best, John Sanbonmatsu, Richard Kahn, Richard White, Gavan Watson, Martha Jecmen, Carol Glasser, Daria Richards, David Sztybel, Kristyn Dunnion, Allison Noble, and Rob Moore. Thanks also to Animal Voices, guests of the Animal Voices radio show, Propagandhi, Rise Above (Restaurant), Fine Grind Cafe, Mahtay Cafe, and the many excellent students I have worked with over the years. TABLE OF CONTENTS A bstract..................................................................................................................................................... ii D edication ................................................................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................vii P relu de.......................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter Summaries........................................................................................................................... 14 Chapter I: Voice and the Human Subject................................................................................. 19 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................