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Human-Animal Relations in Soviet-Russian Literature of the North in 1950-2000s

Tampere University

This dissertation research studies the human-animal-relations in the Soviet-Russian literature of the North in 1950-2000s. The research examines, how literature describes the impact of modernization to the human-animal relations in the area, how the Arctic space is shaped through human-animal interaction and how human-animal relation reflects the general attitude towards the Northern and Arctic nature and space. The theoretical background of the research lies in posthumanist theory and human-animal studies.

Background

The dissertation project is part of a project called Changing Environments of the North by Tampere University and University of Eastern Finland.

Goal

One of the main goals of the research is to present posthumanist theory and human-animal studies for the research of Russian literature. In previous research only little attention has been paid to the animal imagery of Russian literature and it has been analyzed only as a symbol that reflects the human culture and society. In this research literary animals are considered as representations of physical, living animals that interact with human characters of the works. One of the goals is also to bring out the ethnic diversity of the literature describing the Northern and Arctic territories of Russia. This is carried out through analyzing works of both Russian authors and authors from indigenous peoples of the areas.

Contact persons

Eeva Kuikka

Dissertation researcher

eeva.kuikka [at] uta.fi

+358 44 263 1003