SW- response & update

(A) A very general response to the above three assignments. What was interesting? What not? Why? (250 words minimum)
I found the Art21 perfectly aligned in relationship to a fibers class I’m taking called The Paradigm of Collecting. Fred Wilson’s thoughts about object’s having memories, and identity being tied to experience is interesting compared to the job of curating, that he is often critiquing. He says he is inspired by the things around him, which is often what I heard a large group of people say in the audio piece about defining natural history (in week 1). I like that relationship between natural history appreciation and Fred Wilson’s work. The Museum of Jurassic Technology was really great to listen to about David Wilson’s contributions and curating of objects and organisms. It really puts into place that Natural history museums are often history, science and art together. The display about the beetle and pebble where the beetle makes the same noise when threatened that the pebble makes at rest is truly beautiful and fascinating discovery. This display example is cool to think about for our wunderkammer assignments as well of making relationships between two seemingly unrelated things.

(B) An update on your project specifying the progress you have made in the last week. This should include five references you have found that are relevant to your project AND four sentences with each summarizing it and saying why it might be useful. (300 words minimum)

I am interested in animals that are monogamous. I will pick animals that are from a range of monogamy types. There is alot of research behind why certain animals are monogamous. For example, beavers are monogamous because of the complex home building system they create. For alot of animals monogamy is not an emotional choice. BBC has a great series of videos of how animals are choosing their partners.

There is also new research suggesting animals that are monogamous are more likely to become endangered and die out.

Also, there is a book from evolutionary biologist David Barash about these studies called Strange Bedfellows: The Surprising Connection Between Sex, Evolution and Monogamy. I am interested in animals like swans that are known for being monogamous that are now evolving to not be monogamous and why that is. Is monogamy evolutionary?

Lastly, I also like this mythology attached to specific monogamous mates like the Sarus cranes. Sarus cranes are a symbol of fidelity and perform a poetic dance for their mates. A myth about this animals is that if one of the mates dies, the other will die of a broken heart.

Right now, I am struggling on how to keep this project focused, yet strong in a topic this large. I need to keep it connected to the biological concept but there is alot of ground to cover as well and I'm trying to rethink the format to go along with everything. Maybe a 15-20 minute podcast about my research would be more appropriate? Still thinking about that...
-Sarah W