Reading the Animal Text in the Landscape of the Damned

Reading the animal text in the landscape of the damned looks at the diverse texts of our everyday world relating to nonhuman animals and examines the meanings we imbibe from them. It describes ways in which we can explore such artefacts, especially from the perspective of groups and individuals with little or no power. This work understands the oppression of nonhuman animals as being part of a spectrum incorporating sexism, racism, xenophobia, economic exploitation and other forms of oppression. The enquiry includes, physical landscapes, the law, women’s rights, history, slavery, language use, economic coercion, farming, animal experimentation and much more. 

 

Reading the animal text in the landscape of the damned is an academic work but is accessible, theoretically based but robustly practical and it encourages the reader to take this enquiry further for both themselves and for others. 

 

 

“It is my opinion that this book will not only challenge existing belief systems but will also educate and inspire change. It is a necessary and worthy addition to the existing literature and an admirable contribution…”

 

“This process of reading the landscape and deconstructing signs is all the more engaging for the reader because of Mitchell’s own wide reading and general knowledge. Mitchell can take us from Ancient Greece to the American West in unpacking what we see as ‘normal’ around us.”