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A Critical Reading of Companion Species on Instagram: ‘Being-With’ and ‘Becoming With’ Dogs As (Non)Human Others

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A Critical Reading of Companion Species on Instagram: ‘Being-With’ and ‘Becoming With’ Dogs As (Non)Human Others A critical reading of companion species on Instagram: ‘being-with’ and ‘becoming with’ dogs as (non)human others by KARLI BRITTZ A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree PHD (Digital Culture and Media) in the FACULTY OF HUMANITIES UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA FEBRUARY 2020 SUPERVISOR: PROF AA DU PREEZ ABSTRACT AND KEY TERMS Based on Donna Haraway's concept of dogs as companion species, this study aims to critically examine the phenomenon of companion species as it manifests on social media by exploring the notion of humans being-with and becoming with dogs as their nonhuman others. Working through Haraway’s companion species and the nonhuman turn, I consider the relation between Haraway’s (2008) becoming with and German philosopher Martin Heidegger’s (1927) idea of being (Dasein) and being-with (Mitsein) others. By reading Haraway with Heidegger, I argue that nonhumanism is not a rupture from the human condition, but rather an expansion of what it means to be human with others in contemporary society. I show that although nonhumanism typically rejects Heidegger’s perceived anthropocentric approach to animals, Haraway’s nonhumanist becoming with shares and shows similarity to Heidegger’s being-with-others. Throughout my exploration of the phenomena of companion species, I maintain the position that in the midst of the nonhuman turn, we remain all too human by being-with nonhuman others, specifically in terms of human-dog companionship. In contemporary society the pivotal relationship of companion species notably manifests on social media when humans capture and share their relations with their dogs on various platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. In an added layer to the study, I argue that online images of the human-dog relation reflect and mediate the nature of being-with and becoming with nonhuman others. Through a digital and theoretical exploration of online companion species, I show how these images reflect the significance of human qualities within nonhuman relations, as well as what it means to be human with our nonhuman others in the Digital Age. Key terms: companion species; nonhumanism; Martin Heidegger; Donna Haraway; Dogs of Instagram; Digital Humanities; being-with; becoming with i PLAGIARISM DECLARATION Student number: 10317083 I hereby declare that A critical reading of companion species on Instagram: ‘being- with’ and ‘becoming with’ dogs as (non)human others is my own work and that all sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Karli Brittz 4 February 2020 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dogtrate is predominantly about companionship and being with others. I owe a great debt of gratitude to those who accompanied me on this journey and taught me more about being with others, support, love, companionship – and dogs – than any book ever could. I am forever indebted to my supervisor and co-pilot, Prof Amanda Du Preez, for consistently guiding me, my ideas and my dogs, and sharing her infinite knowledge, way of thinking and the joy of academia with me. Thank you for the endless opportunities, patience and cups of coffee we have shared. I can only hope that what I have attempted in this dissertation has done the time invested in me, as her student, justice. I appreciate the Department of Visual Arts and my Visual Studies colleagues so much for all their support and inspiration. I am thankful for their patience and understanding of my decision to give up some of my responsibilities to pursue the research presented here. To Lize, Deneesher, Janine, Obakeng, Nkami, Tina, Phindi, and in particular our pillars Rory and Jenni, thank you for gladly accommodating me, and for all your comfort and motivation. And most importantly thank you for every treasured conversation about life, research and, of course, our dogs. I have been lucky enough to pursue this study in various contact zones that have been constant sources of knowledge and inspiration. I am grateful to the NYU Summer School programme, the University of Antwerp Centre for Digital Humanities and Thinkst Applied Research for allowing me to use their IT- experts, facilities, resources, as well as learn from and share in the magical spaces of their respective cities. I sincerely thank all those who made these opportunities possible. The completion of this study owes everything to my family who have been alongside me throughout this wild ride. To the Rohrbecks and Halls, thank you iii for your constant check-ins, support and pawsome language skills. To the Brittz- pack, Pappa, Mamma, Eugene and Bernie, my list of thanks to you could probably fill an entire thesis of its own. Thank you for your tolerance, your encouragement, your passion and your love. And to my Nick, thank you for patiently being with me on this journey, chasing my dreams with me and loving every single dog post I have shown you the last few years just as much as I have. Finally, I am grateful to every dog, especially Fudge and Cody, who have knowingly or unknowingly participated in this research. When all else fails, I am lucky to know that, at least, we will always have dogs. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES ix CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION................................................................................... 1 1.1 The research problem....................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Introduction to the study................................................................................................ 4 1.2.1 Background, context and understanding.................................................... 4 1.2.2 Need for the study................................................................................................. 20 1.2.3 Scope of the study................................................................................................. 23 1.2.4 Aims of the study................................................................................................... 27 1.2.5 Research methodology and theoretical approach.................................. 27 1.3 Literature review................................................................................................................ 33 1.3.1 Haraway’s literature............................................................................................ 33 1.3.2 Other literature concerning companion species..................................... 35 1.3.3 Literature concerning the human-dog relation....................................... 38 1.3.4 Literature concerning Heidegger’s being-with and Haraway’s becoming with......................................................................................................... 39 1.3.5 Literature concerning the Anthropocene in terms of human exceptionalism and nonhumanism................................................................ 41 1.3.6 Literature concerning the Anthropocene, companion species and visual culture........................................................................................................... 43 1.3.7 Literature concerning companion species and social media............. 45 1.3.8 Literature concerning methodology and theoretical approach........ 46 1.3.9 Literature concerning digital humanities................................................... 48 1.4 Outline of chapters............................................................................................................ 50 PART ONE: EVERYBODY AND THEIR DOG 52 CHAPTER TWO – LOOKING AT THE (NON)HUMAN: EXPLORING ANTHROPOCENTRISM.............................................................................. 53 2.1 If dogs could talk: introducing the animal question............................................ 54 2.2 Human > dog: understanding anthropocentrism................................................. 64 2.2.1 The philosophical roots of anthropocentrism.......................................... 66 2.2.2 Anthropomorphism............................................................................................. 73 2.2.3 Domestication......................................................................................................... 78 2.3 (Re)turning to Derrida: bursting the anthropocentric bubble....................... 83 2.3.1 What if Derrida had a dog? .............................................................................. 88 2.4 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 92 v CHAPTER THREE – LOOKING FOR THE (NON)HUMAN: EXPLORING NONHUMANISM.......................................................................................... 93 3.1 Nonhuman ³ human: understanding nonhumanism.......................................... 93 3.1.1 Nonhumanism and posthumanism................................................................ 103 3.1.2 The ‘subspecies’ of nonhumanism................................................................. 105 3.1.3 Nonhumanism and the question of the animal......................................... 111 3.2 Finding the human in nonhumanism........................................................................ 123 3.3 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 132 CHAPTER FOUR – BEING-WITH THE (NON)HUMAN: READING HEIDEGGER......................................................................................................... 134 4.1 Being
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