Animals and Society: An Introduction to Human-Animal Studies. Analysis of Chapter 6: Display, Performance, and Sport.

The chapter Display, performance, and Sport provide a wider understanding regarding the manner in which humans use animals and the associated societal perception. On a broader note, the chapter explains the possible benefit or harm that emanate through the relationships with animals, as well as the motivation of individuals who derive pleasure from watching them. In the third paragraph, the DeMello mentions that animals play an important role as the source of entertainment. Animals undeniably act as the source of pleasure and motivation to the majority of people across the world including the Americans. Both the wild and domestic animals have remained an essential component of the peoples lives. The DeMello argues that having a fascination and desire to watch animals, especially wild ones is not sufficient to explain other ways people use as well as using the animals as entertainment. In my view, the situation has been intensified by the fact that wild animals demonstrate a considerable level of sameness with human beings, and therefore humans develop a feeling of pleasure while watching. They also feel that the domestic animals are part of the human family and should be integrated into our families. It is through this means that people have even resorted to watching the documentaries that focus on the plight of wild animals as well as the loss of habitat. These documentaries educate the public on ways in which animals are imperiled.

Even as a way of supplementing their pleasure and animals, the DeMello argues that human beings have continued to establish Zoo as homes for animals. The most striking aspect of this move, however, is the fact that only the wild animal is placed within this places. In my opinion, zoo maintains the distinctions that exist between wild and domestic, and therefore a place of pursuing the human interest. The conventional wisdom that asserts that it is not a zoo if does not have an elephant. On the other hand, the domesticated animals would not also fix zoo because of the value human beings have attached to them. It is undeniable to mention that people appreciate the domesticated animals. However, it would be significantly absurd to watch horses and cows racing, fighting or participating in the rodeo.

The first zoos, however, worked against the protection of the animals lives because the majority of them were killed even for commercial purposes for by the people who had been given the responsibility of keeping them. While all these events were driven by the desire to derive entertainment and pleasure from both the domesticated and wild animals, the DeMello recognizes that the modern way of designing zoos have helped protect the animals. These arguments are undeniably true because the current approach to zoon enclosure design has highly replicated the animals environment as closely as possible. In the same way, we have felt the use of environmental enrichment in many zoos with the aim of reducing, stress, and conditions known as Zooochis. Other technologies have also been implemented to enhance the psychological well-being of the animals kept in zoos.

As a conclusion, I think human beings have so far made greater steps in ensuring that they have highly benefitted from the animals. Although such benefits occur, they are also supposed to protect the lives of animals, and this includes those in the wild and those kept in the zoo.

Works Cited

DeMello, M. (2012). Animals and society: An introduction to human-animal studies. New York: Columbia University Press.