"Applying thinking on gender and the environment to research on science and technology, this work explores postcolonical relationships with "the wild" using the USA and Russia as examples. The authors analyze contemporary categorizations of human self versus wild other through three 20th-century icons which illustrate ambivalent ideas about self and other - spaceships, horoscopes and dolphins. They interview astrologers, wilderness guides, dolphin
trainers and academic staff of space agencies from Russia and the US, and look
at representations of the space race in film and science fiction in both
cultures as well as in New Age and other texts on dolphins, astrology and space travel.
We see how a particular icon of the wild - the dolphin - is elevated to
mythological status, and how a secularized society looks for spiritual fulfilment in
the "beyond" - astrology - and in its own technological advances - space travel."
A great read if you're interested in any or all of the above...if not, not so great a read
Postcolonical means beyond the anus. I think they meant postcolonial... My mum is a cultural theory professor and aparrently their publisher (Zed) is actually very reputable. Which of course is what I expected from reading the blurb. Of course.
ReplyDelete(Jamie)