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Dogs are perhaps our most popular pets, and certainly one of the best-loved animals.
Susan McHugh, Ph.D., assistant professor of English at the  University of New England, has published a new book titled Dog that explores the history, evolution, myth, breeding and contributions of humanity's best friend. (click for a profile of Dr. McHugh)
The story of the canine has since the earliest times been fundamentally entwined with that of humanity. Burial sites dating back 12,000 years indicate that dogs moved alongside prehistoric peoples before, during and after both species settled the world.
McHugh's book, part of Reaktion Books' "Animal" series, unravels the debate about whether dogs are descended from wolves, and moves on to deal with canines in mythology, religion, health, and history, including dog cults in ancient and medieval civilizations.
The book also examines the relatively recent phenomenon of dog breeding and the invention of the species, as well as the canine's role in science fact and fiction, from Laika, the first astronaut, and Pavlov's famous conditioned dogs, to science fiction novels and cult films such a "A Boy and His Dog."
Susan McHugh shows how dogs today contribute to human lives in a huge number of ways, not only as pets and guide dogs but also as sources of food, entertainment workers, scientific partners and religious objects.
Dog reveals how we have shaped dogs over the millennia, and in turn, how dogs have shaped us.
The Author
McHugh, who received her Ph.D. from Purdue University, is a faculty member in the Department of English. She teaches composition, narrative, and cultural and textual theory courses.
In her research as well as teaching, she is interested in using theory to connect literary studies with other disciplinary interests, including visual culture and anthrozoology (studies of human-animal interaction).
She is currently working on a second book, a theoretical analysis of how domesticated animals have shaped visual narratives through the twentieth century. Website.
(Press release Sept. 20, 2004) |
