Parrot (eBook)

Paul Carter (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2012 | 1. Auflage
216 Seiten
Reaktion Books (Verlag)
978-1-86189-495-3 (ISBN)

Infos

One of the more nonconformist figures in the animal kingdom, the parrot is linked to humans by its ability to speak a trait many have found unsettling, though this discomfort is offset by its gorgeous plumage, which makes it one of the most popular members of the avian family. Unlike previous studies that have treated parrots as simply a curious oddity, Paul Carter offers here in Parrot a thoughtful yet spirited consideration of the natural and cultural history of parrots, discussing parrot portraiture, the role and significance of parrots' mimicry in human culture, and parrot conservation, as well the parrot's role in literature, folklore and mythology, film, and television worldwide.

Parrot takes three different approaches to the squawker: the first section, 'Parrotics,' examines the historical, cultural, and scientific classification of parrots, 'Parroternalia,' the second part, looks at the association of parrots with the different languages, ages, tastes, and dreams of society, and, finally, 'Parrotology' investigates what the mimicry of parrots reveals about our own systems of communication. Humorously written and wide-ranging in scope, this volume takes readers beyond pirates and 'Polly wants a cracker' to a new kind of animal history, one conscious of the critical and ironic mirror parrots hold up to human society.

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Highly illustrated, with images drawn from a wide range of cultures, historical periods and media, Paul Carter’s Parrot is a roller-coaster ride through parrots in literature, jokes, folklore, mythology, film, TV and children’s stories worldwide, as well as an examination of parrot conservation, talking bird experiments and parrot portraiture.Parrot is a fascinating natural and cultural history. The book covers three broad areas: ‘Parrotics’ - the historical, cultural and scientific classifications of parrots; ‘Parroternalia’ - the association of parrots with the different languages, ages, tastes and dreams of society; and ‘Parrotology' - the mimicry of parrots and what that can tell us about our own systems of communication.This book differs from previous histories, which have treated parrots as subjects of curiosity and a pretext for elegy. A new kind of animal history, Parrot is philosophical and poetic: it takes seriously the critical and ironic mirror that parrots hold up to human society. Humorously written and wide-ranging in scope, Parrot will have broad appeal, and will be of interest to parrot enthusiasts and specialists, as well as a general readership.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 17.8.2012
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Naturführer
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Zoologie
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie
• Themenwelt: Technik
• ISBN-10: 1-86189-495-3 / 1861894953
• ISBN-13: 978-1-86189-495-3 / 9781861894953