Response Questions: AS

1. Linnaeus's taxonomic method of classifying organisms influenced the design and composition of early British zoos as he divided animals from those with vertebrates and those with invertebrates.  Essentially, the animals that shared commonalities (or rather, pertained to the same species) were categorized and placed together with one another.  This was first done by placing the animals in various cages or on stages in the same area, but later evolved to the pertaining species being in their "natural" environment.  This notion of "stamp collecting" in conjunction with the Lincoln Park Zoo became problematic because the zoo resulted in having too many animals of the same species.  This became a problem for the zoo because there was not enough variety for its patrons.  It is also problematic because there was a potential leading up to a lack of responsibility and upkeep of the animals.  This is shown as the Lincoln Park Zoo started selling off their lions.  The problem being that who knows what could become of these precious animals when placed into unknown hands.

2. For me, it seems as though the societal value and value to personal development that natural history harbored in the 17 and 1800s is found in the simple fact that knowledge was growing due to industrialization.  This led to a greater accessibility to knowledge but also a globalization of sorts where natural history became a grandiose production.  This led to a somewhat exploitative wealth of knowledge in a sense.  The promotion of zoological gardens encapsulates these mentalities clearly as standards in natural history shifted due to these economic and industrial shifts taking place globally.

3. According to the video, the result of public demand for seeing exotic animals led to monetary greed for those who ran the industries involved in this subject.  This has clearly become problematic as seen in my answer to question 1.  Once again, animals have been traded and marketed from these industries to produce greater wealth, as was seen at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  As the documentary mentions, this has led to the privatization of ownership of many of these "wild" animals.  Clearly, this is unnatural for these animals, but most importantly it is unfortunate that there is little regulation to be aware of how these precious creatures are experiencing life in these types of quarters.

4. Berger's essay is fascinating as it explains the affinity humans have always had for animals.  He mentions that there is a primordial sort of "otherness" that humans have had for animals and this is due to how humans have often created metaphors for themselves as animals.  There is also a deeper understanding of self when looking at other creatures, an ofter hierarchical one as Berger discusses.  The "similar, but not identical, abyss of non-comprehension" he is mentioning can be seen when he uses the terminology "similar/dissimilar" as I also feel that this is the most profound aspect of his essay.  This is because he is showing how animals are close enough to us in their existence, but there is a lack of compassion and empathy because they can be so out of reach at times.  Humans have a way with only dealing with what is in front of us, instead of seeing a larger picture.  This is inevitable, but something that must be regarded as an aspect of Berger's essay.