思考垃圾动物的几种方式:印度纪录片《塑胶牛》为例

Ruminating on Garbage:Exemplified by Kunal Vohra's Film The Plastic Cow

本文检视非人类动物如何通过人类的语言、经济体系被建构成为"垃圾"这个概念,而这样的建构又是如何回过头来影响动物本身。本文也同时思考与垃圾相关的概念(如废弃物、空气污染、毒物等)和动物之间有何种观念上或实质上(也就是动物-人类-环境三者在物质层面上)的关联性。藉由循着这些语源、文化、经济和生态系统等认知脉络,我们可以看出动物是如何被建构且被称为多余无用之物,并渗透及影响当代蔓延全球的资本主义意识形态。最后本文以一位印度纪录片导演沃荷拉(Kunal Vohra)纪录片里的"垃圾动物"主题来反省文化与全球化、现代性问题,并探讨其纪录片再现策略。

This paper examines the way in which non-human animals are constructed as unwanted object through human language, culture and economic system, and how such construction in return affects the lives of the animals. The paper aims to think through the entangled interconnected relationship among animals, humans and environment on both the conceptual and material levels. It argues that animals are deeply enmeshed in capitalist system while the animal-garbage connection can be traced in etymological, cultural, and economic and ecological systems. In order to reflect on our culture, globalization, and modernity, an Indian documentary film, The Plastic Cow, by Kunal Vohra, is raised as an example to discuss the theme of ＂garbage/ animal,＂ and the film also provides a case for exploring cinematic representational strategies.