Match Each Anthropologist with Their Multispecies Ethnography
Multispecies ethnography is an innovative subfield of anthropology that explores the complex relationships between humans and non-human species, challenging traditional boundaries between the social and natural worlds. This approach examines how humans, animals, plants, and even microorganisms coexist, collaborate, and influence one another in complex ecological and cultural systems. Below is a curated list of prominent anthropologists and their significant works in this field, mapping each scholar to their defining contributions to multispecies inquiry.
Honestly, this part trips people up more than it should.
Anna Tsing and The Mushroom at the End of the World
Anna Tsing’s The Mushroom at the End of the World: How Kit Foxes, Cascades, and Other Species Co-produce Spaces (2015) is a cornerstone of multispecies ethnography. Tsing follows the fate of the matsutake mushroom, a prized del
Donna Harawayand When Species Meet
Donna Haraway’s When Species Meet (2008) redefines the boundaries of anthropological inquiry by centering on the encounters between humans and other species, particularly in the context of technological and ecological transformations. Haraway challenges anthropocentric narratives by exploring how species interact in ways that blur the lines between animate and inanimate, human and non-human. Her work examines case studies such as the relationship between humans and dogs, the impact of biotechnology on species boundaries, and the ethical implications of human-animal coexistence. By framing these interactions as sites of knowledge production, Haraway critiques traditional anthropological frameworks that prioritize human agency over ecological interdependence.
Sarah Franklin and Multispecies Thinking
Sarah Franklin’s Multispecies Thinking (2013) offers a theoretical framework for understanding the entanglements between humans and non-human entities. Franklin argues that multispecies thinking requires a shift from viewing species as fixed categories to recognizing them as dynamic, relational constructs. Through case
