As planned, I watched the CBC's "Cruel Camera" special on The Fifth Estate last night. (if you missed it, you can watch video and read a lot of the details on the program's webpage). Not quite as disturbing as I had feared, or particularly shocking, but that's mostly because I knew a lot of this information already - captive animals used to stage wildlife documentaries, with nothing in the narration indicating the 'reenactment' nature of the films, for example.
Some of the animals are filmed in zoos, others are professional actors whose handlers are hired to reproduce specific stunts for the camera. Even the most respected natural history filmmakers engage in the practice, and as for the classic Disney nature films - a baby polar bear tossed down a slope, lemmings thrown off a cliff... Not so warm and fuzzy, eh?
But "Cruel Camera" was actually more concerned with the use of animals actors in general than with the practices of on-screen natural historians, particularly the use of chimps in film and tv. Speaking to a major animal provider and handler as well as primate sanctuary founders and even Jane Goodall, the program revealed what might as well be called systematic torture.
Chimps can live well into their fifties, and their developmental stages are reasonably similar to humans' - infancy, childhood, adolescence, and a long adulthood. Well, only toddler and child chimps are malleable enough to be trained for entertainment, so the baby chimps are taken from their mothers when they're maybe one year old, brutally trained to act on command, and then shipped off to any roadside zoo or research facility that will take them once they get too strong and wild to handle, which usually happens at adolescence, before they're ten years old.
A few of the luckiest chimps end up in sanctuaries, which require $14000/yr for each chimp's care. But there's a chance the sanctuaries won't be needed indefinitely. The program suggested that the hard work and campaigning of Goodall and other activists may soon result in a ban preventing the use of chimp actors. It can't come too soon.
----
A polar bear photo is a sure way to catch my attention on the net (I know, I'm a sucker), so lured in by a polar bear photo posted by the CBC I happened upon another entertaining image. As someone with an interest in surveillance studies (and a little healthy paranoia), I couldn't help but be amused by this UK photo: "ONE NATION UNDER CCTV".
Which then, of course, me want to watch this video - "(Total Surveillance is) Identity Theft" - by UK band The Bombs of Enduring Freedom.
And that, inevitably, led me to check on what James Fogarty of The Bombs of Enduring Freedom/Death to Music/Ewigkeit is up to these days. As it turns out, the answer is - quite a bit. New material, the debut digitally re-released, new releases by other DTM artists... Looks like I have more CD shopping and legal downloading to do...
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Monday, 24 November 2008
the construction of wildlife documentaries
This week the CBC program The Fifth Estate is airing a special on wildlife documentaries called "Cruel Camera." Apparently it's a follow-up to an investigative journalism piece from 25 years ago that revealed the staging practices of wildlife and nature docs and the ways in which animals often suffered or died in the process - entertainment and potential financial profits outweighing the well-being of the animals. The premise of the new investigation is to see whether conditions have improved. The program is scheduled to air on November 26 at 9:00pm (Canadian/CBC time).
Sunday, 23 November 2008
heathen metal and minneapolis
Minneapolis. Of all the places I could travel to for a conference, why Minneapolis? Well, there was the panel on Animals and Imperialism I was part of. And the Lennard Davis key note. And some good and/or interesting papers delving into Victorian sensation fiction, cannibalism and post-apocalyptic narrative, science and science fiction... and Heathen Crusade.
Actually in St. Paul, and an (on average) half hour bus ride from my hotel, Heathen Crusade balanced my three 'intellectual' days with two metal-drenched nights. The first night's irreverant headbanging was offset somewhat by greasy onion rings, disappointing ale, some weak harmonies, and a missing drummer. Night two was more successful, gastronomically and musically. The companionship in both cases was delightfully charming.
Exclaim will have my more detailed review, but there's already a brief photo record in place.
Actually in St. Paul, and an (on average) half hour bus ride from my hotel, Heathen Crusade balanced my three 'intellectual' days with two metal-drenched nights. The first night's irreverant headbanging was offset somewhat by greasy onion rings, disappointing ale, some weak harmonies, and a missing drummer. Night two was more successful, gastronomically and musically. The companionship in both cases was delightfully charming.
Exclaim will have my more detailed review, but there's already a brief photo record in place.
3 days of intellectualizing about metal...
... is actually far more relevant, interesting, and vital than my heading makes it sound.
Heavy Fundamentalisms: Music, Metal, Politics
It was delightful discussing metal with a roomful of people for whom metal is already a common denominator (so we didn't have to waste time explaining or defining the genre). And then to be discussing the complexities of the genre(s) without falling into debates over classification and taste. I would joyfully attend next year - if I had the funding. With the same caveat, I would also happily attend the conference on metal and gender scheduled to take place in Köln next year. (perhaps in a parallel dimension I am attending both)
Potentially in the works, in response to the spurring of Dr. N.W.R. Scott, a paper on ethics, animals, and extreme metal performance...
Heavy Fundamentalisms: Music, Metal, Politics
It was delightful discussing metal with a roomful of people for whom metal is already a common denominator (so we didn't have to waste time explaining or defining the genre). And then to be discussing the complexities of the genre(s) without falling into debates over classification and taste. I would joyfully attend next year - if I had the funding. With the same caveat, I would also happily attend the conference on metal and gender scheduled to take place in Köln next year. (perhaps in a parallel dimension I am attending both)
Potentially in the works, in response to the spurring of Dr. N.W.R. Scott, a paper on ethics, animals, and extreme metal performance...
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
veg dining in Austria (and a Minneapolis deli wrap)
Two weeks in Austria, and despite the central Europeans' meat-loving reputation, we meatless actually made out alright.
Our first night in Salzburg we happened upon the Restaurant Mundenhamer on Rainerstrasse, which had a strong traditional aura but also offered vegetable loaf and a mixed roast vegetable plate. The parsley potatoes were particularly tasty.
Semmeln (crusty bread rolls) were common breakfast fare, though I took more hearty bread (with a variety of seeds) and muesli when I could get it. Between the Billa markets and the Reformhaus we kept a decent stock of our own supplies as well.
Besides eating Austrian-style vegan at St Josef in Vienna, we also had a delicious and light pumpkin soup at Hollerei on Pfeilgasse, and numerous varieties of potatoes at Wienerwald.
We had less success in Linz - there are at least two vegetarian restaurants in the city, but we had bad timing and didn't find either one of them while it was open. We did, however, manage to order a veggie kebap without cheese and indulge in heisse Maroni.
Back in Salzburg we fared better again. The bean salad at the Augustinian beer hall could've been better, but the thai bean curry at Indigo was good and the vegan special at Spicy Spices was satisfying enough to lure us back there a second time. Indian and Southeast Asian were the dominant flavours of our last several days, extending to Sahib in Innsbruck and Saran in Salzburg's Altstadt. It was incredibly satisfying.
And if that wasn't enough, Austria also gave us a lovely soyaccino serving sidewalk cafe - Kröll in Innsbruck. I could use another right now...
For further recommendations:
Happy Cow Austria
Lonely Planet Austria
And as for Minneapolis... for some reason avocado and provolone are hot in the upper midwest. More to my taste was the deli wrap I had: avocado, hummus and sunflower seeds with romaine, tomato and maybe some other veggies I can't remember. Pretty good stuff.
Our first night in Salzburg we happened upon the Restaurant Mundenhamer on Rainerstrasse, which had a strong traditional aura but also offered vegetable loaf and a mixed roast vegetable plate. The parsley potatoes were particularly tasty.
Semmeln (crusty bread rolls) were common breakfast fare, though I took more hearty bread (with a variety of seeds) and muesli when I could get it. Between the Billa markets and the Reformhaus we kept a decent stock of our own supplies as well.
Besides eating Austrian-style vegan at St Josef in Vienna, we also had a delicious and light pumpkin soup at Hollerei on Pfeilgasse, and numerous varieties of potatoes at Wienerwald.
We had less success in Linz - there are at least two vegetarian restaurants in the city, but we had bad timing and didn't find either one of them while it was open. We did, however, manage to order a veggie kebap without cheese and indulge in heisse Maroni.
Back in Salzburg we fared better again. The bean salad at the Augustinian beer hall could've been better, but the thai bean curry at Indigo was good and the vegan special at Spicy Spices was satisfying enough to lure us back there a second time. Indian and Southeast Asian were the dominant flavours of our last several days, extending to Sahib in Innsbruck and Saran in Salzburg's Altstadt. It was incredibly satisfying.
And if that wasn't enough, Austria also gave us a lovely soyaccino serving sidewalk cafe - Kröll in Innsbruck. I could use another right now...
For further recommendations:
Happy Cow Austria
Lonely Planet Austria
And as for Minneapolis... for some reason avocado and provolone are hot in the upper midwest. More to my taste was the deli wrap I had: avocado, hummus and sunflower seeds with romaine, tomato and maybe some other veggies I can't remember. Pretty good stuff.
Anathema in Vienna
When I found out I was going to Austria - for a three day conference on metal and politics, no less - I started looking up concert listings to find out who I might be able to see. What's a trip to Europe without a metal concert or festival experience?
There were several shows I would've liked to attend but the one I couldn't bear to miss was this - Anathema in Vienna. I've loved the band since their first album, adore watching them live on DVD, conducted a delightful interview with Danny a few years ago, and could hardly wait to see them in concert for myself!
They lived up to my every expectation, and declared it possibly their best show in Vienna ever. When they performed "Sleepless" I nearly spontaneously combusted with joy.
Strangely, a fellow concert-goer recognized us as Anathema fans on the Ubahn and ended up helping us find the venue. We never did catch his name, but I will remember him with gratitude for years to come.
I rank this as one of my top concert experiences of all time.
On a culinary note, we had a delicious Viennese interpretation of vegan at a place called St Josef, at Mondscheingasse 10, before the show - including a delicious square of lemon cake. So good.
There were several shows I would've liked to attend but the one I couldn't bear to miss was this - Anathema in Vienna. I've loved the band since their first album, adore watching them live on DVD, conducted a delightful interview with Danny a few years ago, and could hardly wait to see them in concert for myself!
They lived up to my every expectation, and declared it possibly their best show in Vienna ever. When they performed "Sleepless" I nearly spontaneously combusted with joy.
Strangely, a fellow concert-goer recognized us as Anathema fans on the Ubahn and ended up helping us find the venue. We never did catch his name, but I will remember him with gratitude for years to come.
I rank this as one of my top concert experiences of all time.
On a culinary note, we had a delicious Viennese interpretation of vegan at a place called St Josef, at Mondscheingasse 10, before the show - including a delicious square of lemon cake. So good.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
catching up on old news
In the midst of all my pre- and post-travel reading this fall I bookmarked a couple of news stories that I wanted to comment on. If I wait until I have time for a fully-formed, intelligent response these may never get posted, so instead, here's a very short reel of highlights. Read on if something catches your mind...
We may be the "dominant" species around here but our mere existence relies on some complex interspecies interaction and interdependencies: Putting humans in their place.
In numerous recent discussions - even more frequent since the 'massive economic crisis' discourse has been steam rolling around - the futility of infinite growth economics has been a recurring theme. Sometimes it's just in the context of a casual conversation, sometimes it's in a column by David Suzuki and Faisal Moola: The behemoth that wouldn’t stop growing.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2008/10/07/7001616-ap.html
We may be the "dominant" species around here but our mere existence relies on some complex interspecies interaction and interdependencies: Putting humans in their place.
In numerous recent discussions - even more frequent since the 'massive economic crisis' discourse has been steam rolling around - the futility of infinite growth economics has been a recurring theme. Sometimes it's just in the context of a casual conversation, sometimes it's in a column by David Suzuki and Faisal Moola: The behemoth that wouldn’t stop growing.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2008/10/07/7001616-ap.html
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