Chicken
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Reaktion Books
Published:1st Dec '11
Should be back in stock very soon
In Chicken Annie Potts introduces us to the vivid and astonishing world of Gallus gallus. The book traces the evolution of jungle fowl and the domestication of chickens by humans. It describes the ways in which chickens experience the world, form families and friendships, communicate with each other, play, bond and grieve. Chicken explores cultural practices like egg-rolling, the cockfight, alectromancy, wishbone-pulling and the chicken-swinging ritual of Kapparot; discovers depictions of chickenhood in ancient and modern art, literature and film; and also showcases bizarre supernatural chickens from around the world including the Basilisk, Kikimora and Pollo Maligno. Chicken concludes with a detailed analysis of the place of chickens in the world today, and a tribute to those who educate and advocate on behalf of these birds.
'In this brilliant book, Potts challenges us to see chickens as creatures who think and feel in complex ways all of their own ... This series notably mixes historical and cross-cultural research with gorgeous illustrations; Chicken is no exception.' - TLS 'This tasty book also chases the chicken through literature, film, painting (Magritte's hilariously sad chicken staring at an egg in an eggcup) and national symbolism (especially French). Potts notices, too, the emerging trend of "heroic chickens" and even "the avenging chicken", probably a reaction to increasing popular intolerance of battery farming.' - The Guardian
ISBN: 9781861898586
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
216 pages