The document discusses two efforts to change negative perceptions of wolves: 1) The establishment of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust (UKWCT) which aims to provide accurate information about wolves and allow visitors to interact with "ambassador wolves" in an effort to counter long-held myths. 2) The early 20th century literary genre of "wild animal stories" which portrayed wolves in a more sympathetic light and helped spur the conservation movement. While both efforts intended to increase understanding of wolves and support conservation, their portrayals of wolves were still mediated or one-sided to some degree rather than completely unbiased.
This document discusses definitions of fantasy in children's literature and provides examples of stories featuring mice characters. It explores defining fantasy by elements like elves/fairies, historical settings, or the presence of magic. However, it notes that fantasy is hard to define by a single element. It highlights the Chronicles of Narnia and Redwall series as famous fantasies involving mice. It also lists several other famous mice characters in children's literature and books from 2011 featuring mice protagonists.
The document discusses different types of folklore - ballads, legends, and folktales. It defines each genre and provides examples. Ballads are narrative poems that often retell stories of heroic deeds or recent events, using rhyme and rhythm. Legends are semi-true stories based on real people or events that have taken on symbolic meanings. Folktales are popular stories passed down orally over generations, often anonymously, to teach lessons. The document explores how these genres may differ between cultures and regions.
This document defines and provides characteristics of various mythological figures such as legends, fables, folktales, and fairytales. It then discusses myths in more detail, noting that myths aim to explain cultural phenomena and rituals through stories featuring heroes and gods/demigods that impart lessons. Creation myths specifically seek to explain the origin of the earth/universe, often featuring supreme beings and local animals. Flood myths reset the world through deluges, appearing globally with themes of punishment and rebirth. Tricksters, a universal archetype, use intelligence and cunning to defy norms, found as animal, human and spirit figures like Coyote, Brer Rabbit, Anansi and the Monkey King across various cultures
This document provides an overview of folklore, fairy tales, and mice stories from different cultural traditions. It discusses the definitions and origins of folklore and fairy tales. Specific examples are given of folktales and fairy tales collected from the Brothers Grimm, Norwegian folktale collectors Asbjørnsen and Moe, and Native American oral traditions. Guidelines are also presented for evaluating adapted folktales. The document aims to introduce students to the rich variety of folklore genres and how they have been gathered and shared across cultures.
This document discusses the differences between myths and legends. Myths are traditional stories that people believed to be true at the time, usually involving non-human characters like gods or demons. Myths aim to explain natural phenomena or cultural practices. Legends are set in the more recent past and involve human characters. While possibly based on real events, legends become exaggerated over time and are used to scare, teach, or entertain. Both myths and legends are passed down orally from generation to generation. The document provides examples of myths like Pandora's Box and legends like Johnny Appleseed to illustrate the definitions.
This document provides an introduction to mythology, including definitions and key characteristics of myths. Myths are ancient stories that were originally passed down orally and aim to explain natural phenomena and events through supernatural narratives. They typically feature supernatural elements and are not about real historical events. The document distinguishes myths from legends and folktales, and discusses creation myths, nature myths, and bee myths from various cultures. It also covers hero myths and provides criteria for common elements of hero myths like Theseus and the Minotaur.
Centaur, Cyclops, Mermaids have been the subject of popular culture for thousand of years. A brief report on how anthropomorphism has taken the animation industry to greater summit where it is full fledging beyond one's imagination.
This document discusses definitions of fantasy in children's literature and provides examples of stories featuring mice characters. It explores defining fantasy by elements like elves/fairies, historical settings, or the presence of magic. However, it notes that fantasy is hard to define by a single element. It highlights the Chronicles of Narnia and Redwall series as famous fantasies involving mice. It also lists several other famous mice characters in children's literature and books from 2011 featuring mice protagonists.
The document discusses different types of folklore - ballads, legends, and folktales. It defines each genre and provides examples. Ballads are narrative poems that often retell stories of heroic deeds or recent events, using rhyme and rhythm. Legends are semi-true stories based on real people or events that have taken on symbolic meanings. Folktales are popular stories passed down orally over generations, often anonymously, to teach lessons. The document explores how these genres may differ between cultures and regions.
This document defines and provides characteristics of various mythological figures such as legends, fables, folktales, and fairytales. It then discusses myths in more detail, noting that myths aim to explain cultural phenomena and rituals through stories featuring heroes and gods/demigods that impart lessons. Creation myths specifically seek to explain the origin of the earth/universe, often featuring supreme beings and local animals. Flood myths reset the world through deluges, appearing globally with themes of punishment and rebirth. Tricksters, a universal archetype, use intelligence and cunning to defy norms, found as animal, human and spirit figures like Coyote, Brer Rabbit, Anansi and the Monkey King across various cultures
This document provides an overview of folklore, fairy tales, and mice stories from different cultural traditions. It discusses the definitions and origins of folklore and fairy tales. Specific examples are given of folktales and fairy tales collected from the Brothers Grimm, Norwegian folktale collectors Asbjørnsen and Moe, and Native American oral traditions. Guidelines are also presented for evaluating adapted folktales. The document aims to introduce students to the rich variety of folklore genres and how they have been gathered and shared across cultures.
This document discusses the differences between myths and legends. Myths are traditional stories that people believed to be true at the time, usually involving non-human characters like gods or demons. Myths aim to explain natural phenomena or cultural practices. Legends are set in the more recent past and involve human characters. While possibly based on real events, legends become exaggerated over time and are used to scare, teach, or entertain. Both myths and legends are passed down orally from generation to generation. The document provides examples of myths like Pandora's Box and legends like Johnny Appleseed to illustrate the definitions.
This document provides an introduction to mythology, including definitions and key characteristics of myths. Myths are ancient stories that were originally passed down orally and aim to explain natural phenomena and events through supernatural narratives. They typically feature supernatural elements and are not about real historical events. The document distinguishes myths from legends and folktales, and discusses creation myths, nature myths, and bee myths from various cultures. It also covers hero myths and provides criteria for common elements of hero myths like Theseus and the Minotaur.
Centaur, Cyclops, Mermaids have been the subject of popular culture for thousand of years. A brief report on how anthropomorphism has taken the animation industry to greater summit where it is full fledging beyond one's imagination.
This study explored the furry identity by surveying 217 furries, 29 non-furries attending a furry convention, and 68 college students. The study aimed to test the furry stereotype which portrays furries as predominantly male, enjoying science fiction and cartoons, and identifying with animals like wolves and foxes. It also examined whether furries see themselves as less than 100% human and whether they exhibit traits of mental health issues like gender identity disorder. Dragons and canine/feline species were commonly reported as alternate identities. One-quarter of furries saw themselves as distorted and unattained in their species identity, paralleling some characteristics of gender identity disorder. Further research is needed on the proposed
The document summarizes several Arthurian legends including King Arthur, Camelot, the Holy Grail, Excalibur, Merlin, and Lancelot. It discusses key elements of the legends such as King Arthur drawing the sword from the stone to become king, the Knights of the Round Table serving King Arthur at Camelot, Merlin advising King Arthur, and Lancelot's love for Guinevere. The document also briefly mentions other legends such as Bigfoot, Johnny Appleseed, and Davy Crockett.
Storytelling is a part of every culture and serves several purposes. Myths aim to explain universal origins and supernatural phenomena rather than record true events. Legends contain some factual basis but include mythical elements, often reflecting a culture's spiritual beliefs. Folktales are popular stories passed down orally between generations, usually anonymously with many variations. Myths, legends, and folktales overlap and are difficult to strictly classify. They strengthen communities, provide moral guidance, entertain, educate, and enhance a storyteller's status.
This document provides an overview of folk tales and fairy tales. It defines a folk tale as a short story told by grandparents in the past, often featuring good children facing problems. Some key authors who published and popularized collections of these stories are discussed, including The Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault. Their stories such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Sleeping Beauty became classics. The document also notes how representations of royalty have changed over time.
The document discusses several common themes and elements that are found across many different creation myths from various cultures around the world. Some of the most prevalent themes include:
1) Nearly all myths feature a supreme being or beings that trigger the creation of the world.
2) Many involve the earth emerging from a primordial water or the separation of humans and animals.
3) Most include an original paradise or utopia from which humans were later expelled, often due to a sin or mistake.
The document discusses the portrayal of wolves in history, folklore, and fairy tales. Traditionally, wolves were depicted as scary monsters in stories like Little Red Riding Hood, but more modern versions often aim to present a more balanced view of wolves or show them in a sympathetic light. Angela Carter's stories adapt fairy tales involving wolves, exploring themes of female sexuality, power dynamics, and the relationship between civilization and the natural world.
The document discusses how the theme of "disgrace" is applied to J.M. Coetzee's vision of post-apartheid South Africa in his novel Disgrace. It analyzes how the novel portrays the disgrace of the decline of Western intellectualism, the AIDS epidemic, poor policing, the failure of the Rainbow Nation ideal, and the incompatibility of cultures in South Africa. However, it suggests that through characters like Melanie, there is still hope that South Africa can overcome its current disgraced state and fulfill the dream of becoming a just multicultural nation.
Myths are ancient stories that have been handed down through oral tradition to explain phenomena like the seasons, the natural world, life and death, and relationships. While myths may seem fantastical, they carry important social meanings and lessons. Common elements appear across myths from different cultures, such as creation stories involving birth, death and rebirth by supreme beings. Studying myths helps understand allusions and connects people across time and place by revealing our shared human experiences.
The document summarizes the TV show Primeval, describing its setting across urban London areas and prehistoric times through time rifts. A group of scientists work to stop the world's end caused by dinosaurs traveling through time rifts. While the narrative is outlandish as a sci-fi story, the main characters of a student and zookeeper feel realistic and relatable to create empathy with viewers.
This article provides a detailed overview of the ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet. It discusses how she was associated with cats and was a goddess of the home, fertility, and childbirth. The article describes her role and importance in ancient Egyptian religion and mythology. It explains how she was depicted in iconography and her evolution over time from a lioness to a domesticated house cat. The author is a credible source and the information is well-researched and sourced from reliable academic texts and scholars.
This article provides a brief overview of the history of cats from ancient Mesopotamia through modern times. It discusses how cats were first domesticated in Mesopotamia around 12,000 years ago to control rodents near grain stores. It then outlines how cats were respected in ancient Egypt, where they were sacred animals and mummified after death. The article notes how perceptions of cats later changed in Europe as they became associated with witchcraft, before being seen as pets in modern times.
Frontiers of anthropology ( specific acquired from google .com ) .Deepak Somaji-Sawant
This document discusses the origins and migrations of different sets of animal stories and symbolic animals from ancient cultures. It suggests that the oldest set originated in Africa and features the lion associated with the sun god and a trickster monkey. Other sets originated in Sundaland and featured dragons and birds, and in Atlantis and America which featured coyotes, eagles, and hares. The document explores the meanings and significance of these different animal characters in ancient myths and their connections to constellations, gods, and cultural diffusion across civilizations.
“An excuse for not overcoming” A comparative reading of institutional inferio...Eloivene Blake
“An excuse for not overcoming” A comparative reading of institutional inferiority and social marginality of Maoris in Alan Duff’s Once Were Warriors and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
The document discusses two satirical works from the 18th century Enlightenment period: Voltaire's 1752 short story "Micromégas" and Jonathan Swift's 1729 essay "A Modest Proposal". "Micromégas" uses visitors from other planets to satirize and comment on western culture, employing a common technique of the time. "A Modest Proposal" sarcastically suggests that the poor in Ireland sell their children as food to criticize British policies and attitudes towards the poor in Ireland. Both works effectively used satire and irony to critique society and politics during this age of increased questioning of established beliefs.
The document discusses the debate around keeping wild animals in captivity. It examines the behavioral and psychological impacts on animals held in zoos, aquariums, and circuses. Research shows that orcas and dolphins in small enclosures cannot exhibit natural behaviors and can lose hearing from high-pitched sounds. Wild animals are also social but captivity undermines family bonds. While the first circuses entertained elites, attitudes have shifted with concerns over animal welfare and rights. However, the captive animal industry continues due to lack of transparency and censorship of negative information online. Overall, the document takes the position that wild animals deserve to live freely in their natural habitats without restraints.
Tracking the depictions of animals in children's literature through history reveals not only what authors think about animals, but also what they think about the human experience and of childhood itself. As the word "animal" can be used both to mark the similarities and the differences between beasts and men, it makes sense then that animals depicted in children's literature may do the same. Animals in children's literature may be wholly animalistic, they may act as symbols, they may traipse around in human clothes and perform human actions, or they may also represent racial and other differences. Similarly, child characters may be so feral they act as animals or desire to be one. Considering such depictions of animals (and animalistic children) in children's literature provides the opportunity for thinking about how children understand and negotiate their identities in the world.
Myths and folktales are stories that are passed down orally through generations in cultures to explain phenomena and teach lessons. Myths use gods and goddesses to explain the origins of the world and natural events, while folktales like legends, fairy tales, and fables are secular stories told for entertainment that may also teach cultural values. Both contain common archetypes across cultures and give people a sense of identity and purpose.
The document provides an analysis of the television show Adventure Time. It summarizes that the show is about the adventures of Finn, a human boy, and Jake, a shapeshifting dog, in a post-apocalyptic land called Ooo. Though aimed at children, the show has dark undertones and complex narrative world that was revealed to be Earth after a nuclear war. It draws influences from role-playing games, cartoons and The Simpsons, mixing cartoon humor with cultural commentary and exploration of gender roles. Each episode follows a disruption and quest structure with moral lessons conveyed at the end through the characters. The show offers enjoyment for both child and adult audiences through its storytelling, references and opportunities for moral reflection.
This document appears to be related to machinery or equipment. It contains the name "AUTOFORMAS" and references a machine or part labeled "G M MAQ.5" along with a date of "18/09/15" which likely refers to September 18, 2015. The document provides very limited information and its purpose or contents cannot be determined from the sparse data given.
Film4 Productions would be the best institution to distribute the film Nostalgia, as it is a low-budget British film. Film4 Productions specializes in low-budget films and has a target audience of young adults, which matches Nostalgia. Universal Pictures could also be a good fit since they distribute romantic genre films like Nostalgia. However, the filmmaker is nervous that Nostalgia may be criticized for not being a blockbuster given its lower production quality. Overall, Film4 Productions and Universal Pictures would both be suitable options.
This study explored the furry identity by surveying 217 furries, 29 non-furries attending a furry convention, and 68 college students. The study aimed to test the furry stereotype which portrays furries as predominantly male, enjoying science fiction and cartoons, and identifying with animals like wolves and foxes. It also examined whether furries see themselves as less than 100% human and whether they exhibit traits of mental health issues like gender identity disorder. Dragons and canine/feline species were commonly reported as alternate identities. One-quarter of furries saw themselves as distorted and unattained in their species identity, paralleling some characteristics of gender identity disorder. Further research is needed on the proposed
The document summarizes several Arthurian legends including King Arthur, Camelot, the Holy Grail, Excalibur, Merlin, and Lancelot. It discusses key elements of the legends such as King Arthur drawing the sword from the stone to become king, the Knights of the Round Table serving King Arthur at Camelot, Merlin advising King Arthur, and Lancelot's love for Guinevere. The document also briefly mentions other legends such as Bigfoot, Johnny Appleseed, and Davy Crockett.
Storytelling is a part of every culture and serves several purposes. Myths aim to explain universal origins and supernatural phenomena rather than record true events. Legends contain some factual basis but include mythical elements, often reflecting a culture's spiritual beliefs. Folktales are popular stories passed down orally between generations, usually anonymously with many variations. Myths, legends, and folktales overlap and are difficult to strictly classify. They strengthen communities, provide moral guidance, entertain, educate, and enhance a storyteller's status.
This document provides an overview of folk tales and fairy tales. It defines a folk tale as a short story told by grandparents in the past, often featuring good children facing problems. Some key authors who published and popularized collections of these stories are discussed, including The Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault. Their stories such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Sleeping Beauty became classics. The document also notes how representations of royalty have changed over time.
The document discusses several common themes and elements that are found across many different creation myths from various cultures around the world. Some of the most prevalent themes include:
1) Nearly all myths feature a supreme being or beings that trigger the creation of the world.
2) Many involve the earth emerging from a primordial water or the separation of humans and animals.
3) Most include an original paradise or utopia from which humans were later expelled, often due to a sin or mistake.
The document discusses the portrayal of wolves in history, folklore, and fairy tales. Traditionally, wolves were depicted as scary monsters in stories like Little Red Riding Hood, but more modern versions often aim to present a more balanced view of wolves or show them in a sympathetic light. Angela Carter's stories adapt fairy tales involving wolves, exploring themes of female sexuality, power dynamics, and the relationship between civilization and the natural world.
The document discusses how the theme of "disgrace" is applied to J.M. Coetzee's vision of post-apartheid South Africa in his novel Disgrace. It analyzes how the novel portrays the disgrace of the decline of Western intellectualism, the AIDS epidemic, poor policing, the failure of the Rainbow Nation ideal, and the incompatibility of cultures in South Africa. However, it suggests that through characters like Melanie, there is still hope that South Africa can overcome its current disgraced state and fulfill the dream of becoming a just multicultural nation.
Myths are ancient stories that have been handed down through oral tradition to explain phenomena like the seasons, the natural world, life and death, and relationships. While myths may seem fantastical, they carry important social meanings and lessons. Common elements appear across myths from different cultures, such as creation stories involving birth, death and rebirth by supreme beings. Studying myths helps understand allusions and connects people across time and place by revealing our shared human experiences.
The document summarizes the TV show Primeval, describing its setting across urban London areas and prehistoric times through time rifts. A group of scientists work to stop the world's end caused by dinosaurs traveling through time rifts. While the narrative is outlandish as a sci-fi story, the main characters of a student and zookeeper feel realistic and relatable to create empathy with viewers.
This article provides a detailed overview of the ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet. It discusses how she was associated with cats and was a goddess of the home, fertility, and childbirth. The article describes her role and importance in ancient Egyptian religion and mythology. It explains how she was depicted in iconography and her evolution over time from a lioness to a domesticated house cat. The author is a credible source and the information is well-researched and sourced from reliable academic texts and scholars.
This article provides a brief overview of the history of cats from ancient Mesopotamia through modern times. It discusses how cats were first domesticated in Mesopotamia around 12,000 years ago to control rodents near grain stores. It then outlines how cats were respected in ancient Egypt, where they were sacred animals and mummified after death. The article notes how perceptions of cats later changed in Europe as they became associated with witchcraft, before being seen as pets in modern times.
Frontiers of anthropology ( specific acquired from google .com ) .Deepak Somaji-Sawant
This document discusses the origins and migrations of different sets of animal stories and symbolic animals from ancient cultures. It suggests that the oldest set originated in Africa and features the lion associated with the sun god and a trickster monkey. Other sets originated in Sundaland and featured dragons and birds, and in Atlantis and America which featured coyotes, eagles, and hares. The document explores the meanings and significance of these different animal characters in ancient myths and their connections to constellations, gods, and cultural diffusion across civilizations.
“An excuse for not overcoming” A comparative reading of institutional inferio...Eloivene Blake
“An excuse for not overcoming” A comparative reading of institutional inferiority and social marginality of Maoris in Alan Duff’s Once Were Warriors and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
The document discusses two satirical works from the 18th century Enlightenment period: Voltaire's 1752 short story "Micromégas" and Jonathan Swift's 1729 essay "A Modest Proposal". "Micromégas" uses visitors from other planets to satirize and comment on western culture, employing a common technique of the time. "A Modest Proposal" sarcastically suggests that the poor in Ireland sell their children as food to criticize British policies and attitudes towards the poor in Ireland. Both works effectively used satire and irony to critique society and politics during this age of increased questioning of established beliefs.
The document discusses the debate around keeping wild animals in captivity. It examines the behavioral and psychological impacts on animals held in zoos, aquariums, and circuses. Research shows that orcas and dolphins in small enclosures cannot exhibit natural behaviors and can lose hearing from high-pitched sounds. Wild animals are also social but captivity undermines family bonds. While the first circuses entertained elites, attitudes have shifted with concerns over animal welfare and rights. However, the captive animal industry continues due to lack of transparency and censorship of negative information online. Overall, the document takes the position that wild animals deserve to live freely in their natural habitats without restraints.
Tracking the depictions of animals in children's literature through history reveals not only what authors think about animals, but also what they think about the human experience and of childhood itself. As the word "animal" can be used both to mark the similarities and the differences between beasts and men, it makes sense then that animals depicted in children's literature may do the same. Animals in children's literature may be wholly animalistic, they may act as symbols, they may traipse around in human clothes and perform human actions, or they may also represent racial and other differences. Similarly, child characters may be so feral they act as animals or desire to be one. Considering such depictions of animals (and animalistic children) in children's literature provides the opportunity for thinking about how children understand and negotiate their identities in the world.
Myths and folktales are stories that are passed down orally through generations in cultures to explain phenomena and teach lessons. Myths use gods and goddesses to explain the origins of the world and natural events, while folktales like legends, fairy tales, and fables are secular stories told for entertainment that may also teach cultural values. Both contain common archetypes across cultures and give people a sense of identity and purpose.
The document provides an analysis of the television show Adventure Time. It summarizes that the show is about the adventures of Finn, a human boy, and Jake, a shapeshifting dog, in a post-apocalyptic land called Ooo. Though aimed at children, the show has dark undertones and complex narrative world that was revealed to be Earth after a nuclear war. It draws influences from role-playing games, cartoons and The Simpsons, mixing cartoon humor with cultural commentary and exploration of gender roles. Each episode follows a disruption and quest structure with moral lessons conveyed at the end through the characters. The show offers enjoyment for both child and adult audiences through its storytelling, references and opportunities for moral reflection.
This document appears to be related to machinery or equipment. It contains the name "AUTOFORMAS" and references a machine or part labeled "G M MAQ.5" along with a date of "18/09/15" which likely refers to September 18, 2015. The document provides very limited information and its purpose or contents cannot be determined from the sparse data given.
Film4 Productions would be the best institution to distribute the film Nostalgia, as it is a low-budget British film. Film4 Productions specializes in low-budget films and has a target audience of young adults, which matches Nostalgia. Universal Pictures could also be a good fit since they distribute romantic genre films like Nostalgia. However, the filmmaker is nervous that Nostalgia may be criticized for not being a blockbuster given its lower production quality. Overall, Film4 Productions and Universal Pictures would both be suitable options.
This document outlines the author's teaching philosophy. Some key points:
- The author was inspired to become a teacher by their high school English teacher who motivated students to learn vocabulary and write essays in just 10 minutes.
- They have 8 years of experience teaching English from grades 5 to 11 using different approaches like comparing languages and relating lessons to students' experiences.
- As an educator, teaching English presents challenges like its flexible nature and vast borrowed words, but the author simplifies objectives and progresses lessons from easiest to most complex.
- Formative feedback from students has helped the author adapt their teaching style while the class is ongoing to address issues like talking too fast or not allowing enough note-taking time
Este documento apresenta um resumo do tratado de Aristóteles sobre o infinito, contido nos livros III, 4-8 da Física. Nele, Aristóteles discute as diferentes perspectivas de pensadores antigos sobre a natureza do infinito e analisa criticamente a ideia de que poderia haver um corpo infinito no mundo sensível.
Dr. Denise M. Spirou has over 20 years of experience in education, including as Head of School at The Weiss School since 2011. She has a Doctorate in Teacher Leadership and Specialist in Educational Leadership. Her experience includes teaching K-12, developing gifted programs, and holding leadership roles to oversee all aspects of running a school including academics, operations, staff, and fundraising.
This document provides a profile summary for Ibney Sameer Moolkeea, a 27-year-old mechanical engineer with over 4 years of experience in building services engineering, mechanical, and plumbing design and construction supervision. He has worked as a consulting mechanical engineer for Advanced Mechanical and Electrical Services Ltd since 2012. Prior to that, he completed an internship with Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile Ltée. He holds a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mauritius.
Bryan Adams is seeking a position as a network manager or engineer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He has over 20 years of experience in network support, training, documentation, monitoring, troubleshooting, configuration and installation of Cisco routers, switches and other network equipment. He has worked for several large companies including Dell, MCI, EDS and AT&T in various network engineering and training roles.
III Congreso Ecommaster - Logiecommerce por CorreosEcommaster
El documento presenta a Jesús Sánchez Lladó como el director de la Unidad de eCommerce y Desarrollo de Nuevos Negocios. Su función es liderar el desarrollo de nuevas líneas de negocio relacionadas con el comercio electrónico y la innovación en Correos.
Kill the messenger by peter landesman (for educational purposes)Maor Gillerman
This document is a script for the film "Kill the Messenger" about journalist Gary Webb. It follows Webb as he attends an interview with a suspected drug dealer, Ronny Quail, and witnesses a police raid on Quail's home. Webb becomes interested in Quail's claims that the government knew about the pending raid in advance. The script then shows scenes of Webb's home life with his family and his position as a journalist at the San Jose Mercury-News. He pushes to fully publish a story about asset forfeiture laws related to the war on drugs but faces resistance from his editor.
Schüco provides high-quality window, door, and façade systems for buildings worldwide. They have a network of over 12,000 partners across 80 countries. Schüco prioritizes innovative technology, comfort, quality, safety, and energy efficiency in their tailored solutions. Their website, www.schueco.com, provides more information on their products and services.
1. 1
The Wolves of Our Nature: A Wrongful Extinction
Daniel Warner
Since we have had the means to outwit wolves, we have driven them nearly to extinction
and forced them into only narrow sections of the world. By passing down mediated superstitions
for countless generations through stories like "Little Red Riding Hood,” "The Big Bad Wolf,”
and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” we have put forth an image of wolves as uncontrollable killing
machines in need of extermination. It is only recently that the process of reversing this frenzied
deletion has begun.
Wolves are extinct in the wild in the US and the UK, and only exist in captivity within a
few handfuls of organizations. I had the fortune of working as a volunteer wolf handler for one
such organization-the UK Wolf Conservation Trust based in Berkshire, England. In 2013, I
studied abroad in Reading, England and as part of a class on “Writing the North American
Wilderness,” I had the opportunity to take part in a work placement program as long as I was
able to tie my experience together with the course material. After working at the UKWCT, I have
found myself taking a keen interest in wolves and in how they have been portrayed over the
years. So, why should you care about wolves in the UK? Why should you even care about
wolves at all?
Centuries ago, especially in rural areas, livestock were a primary source of food and
transportation for humans. However, they also happened to be an easy source of food for wolves.
The prejudice against wolves is the result of a fear based in survival that was originally intended
to protect livestock. But this necessary fear has evolved into the deep seated hatred that remains
today, despite the general lack of danger that wolves now present to man.
One of the biggest problems with this anti-wolf mentality is that, because it has existed
unquestioned for so long, its misconceptions have become entrenched even in modern culture
2. 2
and have proven extremely resistant to change. The gray wolf and the red wolf are, respectively,
endangered and critically endangered in many parts of the world. A few efforts have been made
to correct the prevailingly negative views regarding wolves, however, and my main focus today
will be to address how two such efforts in particular have contributed to changing the perception
of wolves.
One effort that has been made towards furthering positive information regarding wolves
is the establishment of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust (UKWCT), which is an attempt to raise
the publicity of the wolf's plight and to refocus the incorrect conceptions of them. The objectives
of the trust stem from a generalized assumption that the public's knowledge as well as the
publicly available knowledge is not accessible or accurate enough to be sufficient and so are all
aimed at providing solutions for this inadequacy. And while at the UKWCT the goal is to try to
provide an unbiased view grounded in science and accuracy, it is only inevitable that an
organization whose aim is to dispel misconceptions that portray wolves negatively, despite their
efforts at providing unbiased information, will provide equally biased counter-positive portrayals
to offset this.
The focus of the UKWCT on portraying aspects of wolves that do not typically appear in
media indirectly builds an image of the wolf for visitors to the trust and readers of its magazine,
Wolf Print. Its efforts to reduce the heavy mediation of the modern understanding of wolves also
cannot escape being mediated. One definitive example of this is the UKWCT's use of
"ambassador wolves.” These are wolves that have been socialized to humans by being exposed
to daily human interaction from birth and therefore have a significantly diminished fear of
humans. Having wolves like this allows the trust to interact with the wolves and even allows
them to let visitors interact with the wolves in the form of "wolf walks"- a common practice of
3. 3
the trust that lets a certain number of paying visitors accompany a group of senior wolf handlers
as they take the three best behaved and youngest wolves out on chained leeds for a guided walk
around the organization's grounds. In addition to providing the visitors with an encounter with a
real, living wolf, the senior wolf handlers periodically provide information about wolves and
attempt to answer any queries that arise. Such educational anecdotes include: often during the
walks at least one of the wolves will roll over and let a visitor rub the soft part of its stomach,
during which one of the handlers might remark with a comment along the lines of "and here you
have your 'Big Bad Wolf'"; or, at any point along the walk, one of the handlers might remark on
the hypocrisy of Theodore Roosevelt's advocation of teddy bears but derision of wolves, or how
Indians did not fear wolves but revered and lived alongside them for centuries in places like
America before settlers began wiping them out. The utilizing of "ambassador wolves" and
supplementing of the "wolf walks" with anecdotal educational information are ways in which the
UKWCT carries forward its objectives of increasing public awareness and righting
misconceptions. But, by their very purpose, they still carry a directed positive nature instead of
being unfiltered and unbiased.
During a particular presentation given at the trust, a video is played that shows Arctic
wolves bounding through snow and playing together which, along with a significant portion of
the lecture being devoted to the prejudices against wolves and their endangered status, portrays
wolves in a way that is in stark contrast to the frequent notion of wolves being vicious predators.
Regarding the issue of authenticity, the portrayal of wolves that the UKWCT gives is still only
one facet of their complex nature.
Another earlier effort that has been made to change how wolves are perceived is the
movement that developed the wild animal story into a literary genre. The literary movement as a
4. 4
whole sought to address a debate formed by the conflicted cultural atmosphere of the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that placed Romanticism at odds with burgeoning
Darwinism. Ernest Thompson Seton, author of the story “Lobo, King of Currumpaw” which is
considered the first “Wild Animal Story,” presents in the Preface to his 1898 book Wild Animals
I Have Known, the movement's intended message: "we and the beasts are kin."
Before he began writing animal stories, Seton made a living partly as an animal trapper.
His account of Lobo is in fact a true account of how he was hired to hunt down a particular wolf
in New Mexico by using the wolf’s mate to lure him into a trap. It is the sight of the helpless and
possibly heartbroken wolf in that trap that moves Seton into fighting for the conservation of
animals rather than their killing.
This led him to become deeply involved in the debate about animal’s intellectual
capabilities that is referred to as the Nature Fakers controversy. This was a highly publicized
debate of the early 1900s where on one side John Burroughs and Theodore Roosevelt considered
animals incapable of anything beyond instinct and the remaining majority of the wild animal
story writers considered animals as capable of human emotion and reason to at least a certain
degree. The debate garnered much publicity for concerns of conservation, and Seton's portrayal
of Lobo the wolf is what began the debate and the conservation movement in the first place.
Other early authors of the genre, Charles G.D. Roberts and William J. Long, instead of
making wolves more human-like, construct wolves as if they are forces of nature. These
depictions evoke a sense of strangeness and power that command respect of the wolf, yet they
also maintain wolves as having at least a vague sense of morality or tenderness for humans even
if they do not share as blatant of human characteristics as, say, Seton's wolves.
5. 5
One further interesting feature that runs through the depictions of wolves throughout
much of the wild animal story genre is a respect for Indian culture and people. For Jack London,
Long, and Roberts, this is evident in how they use many distinctively non-English words and
phrases (e.g., the phrases "Old Tomah" and “wigwam” are used in Seton’s works instead of God
and lean-to) and portray their wolves as protective of and loyal to Indians. This is similar to how,
at the UKWCT, the wolves are named using the Inuit language rather than English. One of the
wolves at the trust, Nuka for example, is Inuit for "younger brother.” The notions of raising
public awareness, respect for wolves, and of dissolving long held misconceptions regarding
wolves are present in each effort that is made to resolve these issues. The differences then are
how the efforts go about enacting these desired changes.
The reality of the situation is that wolves have been persecuted for centuries upon the
basis of harsh and largely untrue assumptions, myths, fables, and stigmas perpetuated by farmers
from long ago. In those days, they had no other explanation for the sudden deaths of their
livestock and so they blamed wolves. However the subsequent centuries of wolf witch hunts
have overblown a misconception of wolves so great that they have been nearly wiped out as a
reaction to the unnecessary fear.
A century previous to the UKWCT’s founding, the genre of the wild animal story created
its own wolves, garnering readers' sympathy and respect through a very public controversy, and
through making wolves appealing instead of repelling. These actions helped spur the
conservation movement of the early 1900s and eventually the founding of programs like the
UKWCT. Likewise in its goals, the UKWCT has utilized wolf "ambassadors" and modern
science in order to provide accurate information alongside encounters with the mythologized
wolves in the hopes of dispelling the fear of them and making their plight known. Both efforts to
6. 6
change the perception of wolves have drawn significant attention towards the need to reduce how
negatively mediated the wolf has become. The UKWCT even has daughter programs as of a few
years ago that extend its reach into the US.
However, the problem remains that the image of the wolf that is being promoted as a
countering response is still not necessarily that of the "real" wolf. Rather, it is merely the direct
opposite of the long standing negative image--the positively mediated version of the wolf. And
while this may not be the most accurate portrayal of wolves, it is at least a step forward.
7. 7
Works Cited
"Aims of the UKWCT,” UK Wolf Conservation Trust (ukwct.org.uk) [accessed 20 June 2013].
Coleman, Jon T., Vicious: Wolves and Men in America. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale
University Press, 2004.
Gooder, Steve, "A Man, a Wolf, and a Whole New World,” The Telegraph, 2008
(www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/3337634/A-man-a-wolf-and-a-whole-new-world.html)
[accessed 29 June 2013].
London, Jack, The Call of the Wild, White Fang and Other Stories (Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2009).
Long, William J., Northern Trails, Book 1 (Whitefish, Montana: Kessinger Publishing, 1905).
Roberts, Charles G. D., "The White Wolf" in Hoof and Claw (New York: The Macmillan
Company, 1917), Project Gutenberg, 2012 (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38675/38675-
h/38675-h.htm) [accessed 29 June 2013].
Roberts, Charles G. D., "The Passing of the Black Whelps" in Watchers of the Trails
(Middlesex: Penguin Books Ltd., 1976).
Seton, Ernest Thompson, Wild Animals I Have Known (New York: Dover, 2000).
The Wild Animal Story, ed. by Ralph H. Lutts (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1998).
Wood, Kay C., Smith, Harlan, Grossniklaus, Daurice, "Piaget's Stages of Cognitive
Development" Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology, 2001
(http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Main_Page) [accessed 27 June 2013].