Interview on symbolicity of wolves released in Krimpodden podcast episode

Today an interview with me on the symbolicity of wolves (and sheep) has been released as part of an episode of the Norwegian podcast Krimpodden, which is published by VG, Norway´s largest newspaper by number of readers. The episode is titled «Ulvejakta 1:2» (The wolf hunt 1: 2); subscription is required to access it. The interview was done by journalist and program host Tor-Erling Thømt Ruud.

Live interview on wolf conflict aired on Politisk kvarter

This morning I was interviewed live on NRK P2´s program "Politisk kvarter", on the wolf conflict. The pretext for the program was that there is an anti-wolf demonstration in Oslo today, with hundreds if not thousands of people coming from the countryside to take part. The program also featured debate between Kristina Hegge (representative for a farmer´s organization, Norges Bondelag) and Atle Hamar (deputy minister, Ministry of Climate and  environment - Social Liberal Party). I was introduced as philosopher with a PhD on a wolf theme, and as a "mytejeger og ulveforsker" (myth hunter and wolf researcher).

The program is available here.

Two book reviews for large predator book

Our book Rovviltet på Agder (Tor Punsvik et al.), where I contribute with a chapter, has been reviewed in two newspapers, Fædrelandsvennen and Tvedestrandsposten.

Scheduled to speak 22nd and 23rd on MAC4 in Mexico City

Here is the program, with abstracts, for the 4th international Minding Animals Conference, to be held in Mexico City January 17-24th.

I have been scheduled to present on Monday 22th at 12.00-12.20 (The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators, in the session "Considering wildlife I") and Tuesday 23rd at 12.50-13.10 (The cultural semiotics of wolves and sheep, same session).

Two papers accepted for MAC4, Mexico City

I have been notified by the organizers of Minding Animals Conference 4, to take place in Mexico City January 17-24th, that my papers "The cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep" and "The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators" have been accepted for oral presentation at the conference.

Abstract for MAC4: "The cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep"

I have just submitted the abstract below to the organizers of Minding Animals Conference 4 (Mexico City, January 17-24th 2018).

***

The cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep

Morten Tønnessen

University of Stavanger, Norway

Wolves and sheep go together – at least in the public mind. They are among the most widespread mammals of wild and domesticated species respectively. While the wolf is in several countries the most controversial large carnivore, it is also, and not coincidentally, the most symbolically laden Western carnivore. The wolf is a symbol of large carnivores, governmental interference in local issues, freedom and authenticity, evil, hunger, sexuality, etc. Sheep, on the other hand, represent among other things innocence and vulnerability (and, of course – food, wool and thus economic value).

The juxtaposition of the symbolism of wolves and sheep go all the way back to the Bible, if not even further. In the Bible, this archetypical opposition is only resolved in the vision of a new Earth and new Heavens, when, in this new paradise, “[t]he wolf and the lamb will feed together” (Isaiah 65:25). Meanwhile, everybody “knows” that wolves prey on sheep. However, many would be surprised to learn that in Norway, wolves over time only account for less than a tenth of depredation on sheep. This demonstrates the way in which people are informed not only by facts, but also by cultural imagery.

Familiarity with the cultural imagery of wolves and sheep is arguably a precondition for fully understanding the fierce human emotions that are invoked in social and political conflicts on wolf management and conservation. Although there are local variations, and even though imagery and symbolism can change over time, the “background noise”, as it were, of the historical cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep is significant practically wherever there are, or were, wolves.

Wolf and sheep semiotic article published online

No. 2 of Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies, a special issue titled "Emotions, Humans and Animals" (Winter 2016, 157 pp) has just been published online, with my article "Historicising the Cultural Semiotics of Wolf and Sheep" included.

Dissemination text on wolves and sheep rejected, resubmitted

My dissemination piece "Ulv og sau - et naturlig par?" [Wolf and sheep - a natural couple?] was rejected by Aftenposten Innsikt, but has since been shortened somewhat and submitted elsewhere.

See also:

Dissemination article on wolves and sheep

Dissemination article on wolves and sheep

I have just composed a chronicle of sorts, entitled "Ulv og sau - et naturlig par?" [Wolf and sheep - a natural couple?], submitted to Norwegian daily newspaper Aftenposten for their Innsikt section.

Reference for wolves and sheep article in PJoHS

Here´s the reference for my forthcoming article on wolves and sheep.

Tønnessen, Morten 2016. Historicizing the Cultural Semiotics of Wolf and Sheep. Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies 1(2) (Special Issue on “Emotions, Humans and Animals”): 76–101. doi:10.2979/pjhs.1.2.03.

Wolves and sheep article - proof queries

I have just responded to proof queries in the third round of editing of my article "Historicizing the Cultural Semiotics of Wolf and Sheep", forthcoming in Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies.

Wolf and sheep article edited (second round)

Last evening I finished the second round of revision of my article for Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies´ special issue on “Emotions, Humans and Animals”, "Historicizing the Cultural Semiotics of Wolf and Sheep".

See also:

New title for wolf and sheep article for PJHS

Wolves and sheep article revised

Yesterday I revised my article "A brief history of the cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep", which is to appear before Christmas in Pakistan journal of historical studies.

Interview on wolves in Fædrelandsvennen weekly magazine

Saturday July 30th, an interview with me on people´s ideas about wolves featured in a long story (7 pp. including other interviews) on wolves published in the weekend magazine of Norwegian regional daily newspaper Fædrelandsvennen.

Interviewed by regional newspaper on wolves

Today I have been interviewed by a journalist from Fædrelandsvennen about the cultural and ecological background for ongoing conflicts about wolf conservation. The interview will appear in a few weeks, in the weekly magazine of the newspaper.

History of cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep paper presented in Prague

Here at the 16th gathering in biosemiotics, in Prague, I have just presented my paper "A brief history of the cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep". Some 45 people attended.

Article "A brief history of the cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep" written

I have just finished my article "A brief history of the cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep" (some 8.500 words). Submitted to the special issue "Emotions, Humans and Animals" of the recently launched Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies.

"Wolf land" article referred to in "Habitat Model for a Recolonizing Wolf (Canis lupus) population in Finland"

My article

Tønnessen, Morten 2010. Wolf Land. Biosemiotics 3.3: 289–297 (online version, published April 23, 2010: DOI: 10.1007/s12304-010-9077-x).

is cited in 

Kaartinen, Salla, Harri Antikainen and Ilpo Kojola (2015). Habitat Model for a Recolonizing Wolf (Canis lupus) population in Finland. Annales Zoologici Fennici 52: 77–89.

Excerpt (pp. 77-78):

In Fennoscandinavia, the primary reason for the presently small number of wolves is presumably wolf-human conflicts, including wolf predation on semi domesticated reindeer herds in Northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland and sheep flocks especially in Norway, as well as wolf attacks on dogs, a problem that concerns all Nordic countries (Kojola & Kuittinen 2002, [...] Tønnesen 2010).

"A brief history of the cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep" accepted for GiB16 (Prague)

I have just been informed that the Program Committee of the Sixteenth Annual Gatherings in Biosemiotics (Prague, 4 – 8 July) has accepted my paper "A brief history of the cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep" for oral presentation.

Wolf and sheep paper planned for Special Issue of Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies

I have agreed to contribute to Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies (published by Indiana University Press) 1(2), a forthcoming special issue on “Emotions, Humans and Animals". Work title for my paper, which is due June 1st, is "A brief history of the cultural semiotic of wolves and sheep».