Feathery Things: An Avian Introduction to Animal Studies

This course will provide grounding in the emerging field of critical animal studies by surveying how we know and interact with one diverse and charismatic class of animals: the Aves. Inspiring science, art, and conservation, traded as resources, kept as hunters or pets, and eaten as meat, birds provide an excellent avenue into animal studies. The diverse ways people relate to birds provides an innovative avenue into studies of social science and human existence. In addition to reading and discussion, we also will experience the many forms of birds around us through indoor and outdoor “laboratory” sessions.