Revisiting Alice

Abstract

Responding to the need to "think of unheard thoughts about animals" (Calarco 2008: 6) I explore the "question of the animal" through the art object. In so doing I interrogate the efficacy of art in effecting social change. I examine the problematic question of humankind's relationship to the animal by revisiting the children's tales Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass. In so doing I touch on questions such as sentience, anthropomorphism and language while engaging with the writings of amongst others Peter Singer and Jacques Derrida.

Opsomming
As respons op die noodsaak "[to] think of unheard thoughts about animals" (Calarco 2008: 6) verken ek die vraagstuk van die dier deur middel van die kunsvoorwerp. In die proses bevraagteken ek die vermoe van kuns om sosiale verandering teweeg te bring. Ek ondersoek verder die problematiese vraag aangaande die mensdom se verhouding tot die dier deur kinderverhale soos Alice in Wonderland en Alice through the Looking Glass opnuut te bestudeer. Sodoende roer ek vrae aangaande gevoelsvermoe, antropomorfisme en taal aan, terwyl ek die werke van onder meer Peter Singer en Jacques Derrida bestudeer.