Assignment Paper No. 204 : From Wilderness to Captivity: Eco-critical Reflections on Animal Ethics, Conservation, and Representation in Contemporary Media

From Wilderness to Captivity: Eco-critical Reflections on Animal Ethics, Conservation, and Representation in Contemporary Media

This blog is a part of the assignment of Paper 203: Literary Theory & Criticism and Indian Aesthetics 

Academic Details:

Name : Jay P. Vaghani

Roll No.         : 06

Sem. : 2

Batch : 2024-26

E-mail : vaghanijay77@gmail.com   

Assignment Details:

Paper Name : Literary Theory & Criticism and Indian Aesthetics 

Paper No. : 109

Paper Code : 22402

Unit : 2- Northrop Frye's The Archetypal Criticism

Topic :“The Archetypal Feminine: The Mother and Virgin Archetypes in Literature and Their Subversions”

Submitted To : Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

Submitted Date : April 17, 2025

The following information—numbers are counted using QuillBot:

Words         : 1784

Characters         : 13212

Characters without spaces : 11502

Paragraphs         :98

Sentences         : 162

Reading time         :7 m 8 s

Table of Contents

Personal Information

Assignment Details

Abstract

Introduction

The Silenced Woman: Feminist Reclamation in Rhys’s Narrative

The Postcolonial Lens: Creole Identity and Otherness

Madness and Isolation: The Psychological Landscape of Antoinette

Narrative Technique and Multiplicity of Voice

Conclusion

Abstract

This paper explores the shifting relationship between humans and animals through an eco-critical and zoocritical lens, using real-world examples from environmental reports, journalism, and visual media. Drawing on the theoretical insights of Graham Huggan and Helen Tiffin’s Postcolonial Ecocriticism and Aarthi Vadde’s work on cross-pollination between ecocriticism and postcolonialism, the paper examines how concepts like “animal welfare,” “conservation,” and “rights” are framed in modern culture. Through case studies such as the film Sherni (2021), viral media on animal captivity, and journalistic accounts of deforestation and tiger hunts, this study argues that ecological narratives often conceal systems of exploitation beneath the guise of protection.

Introduction

Eco-criticism, as a field, studies the relationship between literature, culture, and the environment. However, in recent decades, the focus has expanded to include zoocriticism—a sub-branch that interrogates how animals are represented and treated in human discourse. Graham Huggan and Helen Tiffin (2010) define postcolonial ecocriticism as the intersection of environmental justice and cultural identity, revealing how colonial histories of land exploitation extend to the exploitation of animals.

In India, debates over animal rights and conservation have intensified with the rise of viral media coverage, government actions, and public outrage over human–wildlife conflict. The killing of the tigress Avni (Shantha, 2018) and the illegal lion shows in Gir (DeshGujaratHD, 2019) illustrate the paradox of a nation that worships animals symbolically while exploiting them physically.

Theoretical Framework: Eco-criticism, Zoocriticism, and Postcolonialism

Aarthi Vadde (2011) argues that ecocriticism, zoocriticism, and postcolonialism intersect through a shared concern for “cross-species ethics” and “environmental representation.” Postcolonial nations, shaped by histories of exploitation, often replicate colonial attitudes toward land and animal life. Huggan and Tiffin similarly note that environmental degradation in postcolonial contexts is inseparable from questions of power, globalization, and cultural hierarchy.

In this framework, animals are not merely background figures in human narratives but agents within ecological and moral systems. The Book of Genesis (King James Version, 2017) reflects early anthropocentrism, granting humans dominion over animals—a theological foundation for centuries of species hierarchy. Eco-critical thought challenges this view by emphasizing coexistence and moral reciprocity.

The Human–Animal Divide: Ethics and Representation

The debate between animal rights and animal welfare—as defined by PETA and the American Veterinary Medical Association—illustrates the complexity of ethical discourse. While welfare advocates focus on humane treatment, rights theorists argue for intrinsic animal autonomy.

Susana Monsó (2018) in Animal Morality challenges the notion that moral reasoning is uniquely human, presenting evidence of empathy and fairness in non-human species. This recognition blurs the traditional boundary between man and animal, demanding a re-evaluation of how literature and media portray animal subjectivity.

Wilderness, Exploitation, and the Politics of Conservation

Environmental journalism reveals the political underpinnings of conservation policies. For example, Ramu Bhagwat’s Times of India report (2018) on forest land in Yavatmal being allocated to Reliance exposes how economic development overrides ecological protection.

Similarly, in Amit Masurkar’s film Sherni (2021), the protagonist Vidya Vincent struggles against bureaucratic corruption and patriarchal power structures while trying to protect a tigress. The film becomes an allegory for eco-feminism, illustrating how both women and wildlife suffer under systems of domination.

Captivity and Spectacle: Zoos, Media, and the Illusion of Care

Modern zoos, as described by Loy Norrix (2023) and Esther Suson’s History of Zoos, are often framed as centers for education and conservation. However, critics argue that they perpetuate captivity and species hierarchy. The Daily Mail (2019) video “Zoos Drive Animals Insane” visualizes the psychological trauma inflicted on caged animals, reinforcing the argument that zoos serve human entertainment more than ecological preservation.

Through a postcolonial lens, these institutions replicate imperial ideologies—displaying “exotic” creatures from formerly colonized regions, symbolizing control over nature. Viral videos of illegal lion shows in Gir further expose how tourism and capitalism commodify wildlife under the guise of cultural pride.

Eco-feminist and Moral Perspectives on Animal Welfare

Eco-feminism links the exploitation of nature and women to patriarchal systems. In Sherni, Vidya Balan’s character embodies an ethic of care that contrasts with the masculine drive for control and conquest. This aligns with Huggan and Tiffin’s observation that ecological justice requires a recognition of interconnected oppressions—of gender, race, and species.

The moral turn in animal studies, as discussed by Monsó (2018), insists on recognizing animals as moral beings with social emotions. Such perspectives urge a shift from management to coexistence—a transformation of both policy and consciousness.

Conclusion

From religious texts to viral videos, human relationships with animals reflect deeper cultural and ethical conflicts. Through eco-critical and zoocritical perspectives, this paper reveals that so-called “protection” often masks domination. Films like Sherni and real-world cases of animal captivity demonstrate the persistence of colonial hierarchies in the treatment of nature.

True ecological consciousness demands that humans see animals not as symbols or spectacles but as co-inhabitants of a shared world. As Huggan and Tiffin remind us, environmental ethics begins where anthropocentrism ends.

References

“Animal welfare: What is it?” American Veterinary Medical Association, https://www.avma.org/resources/animal-health-welfare/animal-welfare-what-it.

Bhagwat, Ramu. “467 hectares of Yavatmal forest land given to Reliance | Nagpur News - Times of India.” The Times of India, 23 January 2018, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/467-hectares-of-yavatmal-forest-land-given-to-reliance/articleshow/62610513.cms.

DeshGujaratHD. “Another video of illegal lion show in Gir goes viral.” YouTube, DeshGujratHD, 9 March 2019, https://youtu.be/BvAkJAuqLn0?si=rLi_8yKpO0Jeb1Xq.

Huggan, Graham, and Helen Tiffin. Postcolonial Ecocriticism: Literature, Animals, Environment. Routledge, 2010.

James, King. The Book of Genesis. Independently Published, 2017.

Masurkar, Amit V., director. Sherni. T-Series Abundantia Entertainment, 18 June 2021.

Monsó, Susana. “Animal Morality: What It Means and Why It Matters.” Springer, no. December 2018, 27 September 2018. Springer, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10892-018-9275-3#citeas.

Norrix, Loy. “Zoo.” National Geographic Society, 8 August 2023, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/zoo/.

Shantha, Sukanya. “Activists Suspect Maharashtra's Motives to Kill Tigress Avni.” The Wire, 3 November 2018,

https://thewire.in/environment/maharashtra-prepares-to-kill-alleged-man-eater-activists-and-experts-protest.

"Suson, Esther Elizabeth, and James Donaldson. “The History of Zoos.” Hankering for History,

https://hankeringforhistory.com/history-of-zoos/.

VADDE, AARTHI. “Cross-Pollination: Ecocriticism, Zoocriticism, Postcolonialism.” Contemporary Literature, vol. 52, no.

3, 2011, pp. 565–73. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41472508.

“What is the difference between “animal rights” and “animal welfare”?” PETA,https://www.peta.org/about-peta/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-animal-rights-and-animal-welfare/.

“Zoos drive animals insane.” YouTube, Daily Mail, 9 March 2019, https://youtube.com/watch?v=8-HpJdqiZfU&si=P8uvlnzobSj0TyYf.