tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2279702635216618752.post6700643438874406240..comments2022-01-28T11:06:32.229-05:00Comments on MUSINGS: ANIMAL OF NOTE: THE MAJESTIC BLUE WHALEMusingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04477730106254300631noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2279702635216618752.post-23704278310324316922014-05-17T18:18:07.704-04:002014-05-17T18:18:07.704-04:00I definitely agree with you, Irina. After attendin...I definitely agree with you, Irina. After attending a de-brief with Mark Engstrom (the main ROM large mammal expert and head of the project) at the ROM the other day, I couldn't help but think about how the media may have been a primary reason for why this project was even viable. Mark has uncovered several other species of whale in the past, much in the same manner as this one, but his efforts were never widely publicized like this one. Despite the fact that the whale gained attention because the media falsely stated that it may explode, I am happy that people are now more aware of blue whales and the protection they so desperately need. Thanks for reading!Jaime Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13010813681030538386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2279702635216618752.post-27557636769926106592014-05-16T11:15:06.714-04:002014-05-16T11:15:06.714-04:00I think it is fascinating to consider the ways in ...I think it is fascinating to consider the ways in which, in our case an animal, becomes almost iconic through the work of various institutions, such as museums and media. When something is "canonized" into a Keep Calm iteration, we are signified that it matters culturally. The whale is an ideal "object" because of its amazing characteristics (especially its size and extreme sensorial capacities) but also because it can be humanized in our imagination. I find that, much like the dolphin, the owl and more recently, the fox, the whale is a relatable animal. Great post - it made me think a lot about how animals becomes canvases for current debates, ideologies and discourses. Irinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17349821578571319491noreply@blogger.com