Book Description

An innovative and insightful look at our relationship with animals in the age of the Anthropocene from bestselling author Henry Carroll with original images from an innovative array of contemporary photographers See through the eyes of a new generation of photographers responding to the rapidly unfolding issues shaping our lives. In this series of small, revealing, and beautifully presented books, Henry Carroll, the bestselling photography writer of the last decade, considers the ideas behind images to present personal perspectives on climate change, race, sexuality, gender, faith, inequality, beauty, power, and the natural world. In this second book of the series, ANIMALS, Carroll deep-dives into an ecosystem of contemporary images to consider how we relate to animals in the Anthropocene. His accessible analysis of emotive imagery suggests that our appreciation for some animals and disregard, or repulsion, for others is shaped by our own physicality as much as theirs. He shows how the conventions of natural history offer a very politicized understanding of fauna and how the role of animals as spiritual, cultural, and personal symbols can be an equally valid means of classification. Carroll reflects on the psychological power struggles infusing our daily interactions with animals and unpacks the photographers’ visual insights relating to our treatment of animals, whether it’s the way we pamper them as pets or consume them to excess. In this diverse collection of arresting images and engaging text, Carroll regards the photographers as modern-day philosophers, original thinkers who show us how to fuse technique, concept, and imagination in order to pose intriguing questions about the animal kingdom and human nature. For both the creators and consumers of images, this timely book contains a treasure trove of meaningful visual reflections that will prompt you to rethink your relationship with animals both domestic and wild.