The mid-sixteenth century was a time of rapidly intensifying interest in the study of living nature. Networks of experts described a rapidly growing number of species, complementing descriptions... Show moreThe mid-sixteenth century was a time of rapidly intensifying interest in the study of living nature. Networks of experts described a rapidly growing number of species, complementing descriptions with ad vivum depictions. Since the increase in the number of known species soon called for an organisation of this information, to keep this accessible and navigable, naturalists experimented with classifications and the presentation of information in text and image. This dissertation explores questions about the management of knowledge and information specifically in the context of natural history, looking at a subfield of zoology, the study of fishes and other aquatic animals, as an example, taking as a point of departure the works published by the naturalist Conrad Gessner (1516-1565). Gessner aimed to incorporate into his works an overview of the state of knowledge. As a result his work presents an ideal case study from which to approach questions such as: What happens when a field of knowledge experiences a sudden influx of information? How is information made accessible, how do researchers keep the overview of an increasing quantity of information? How is rudimentary and incomplete information processed and presented, how does it affect established interpretations and methods of working? Show less
The articles included in the present issue of the Journal of the LUCAS Graduate Conference, titled Animals (Un)tamed. Human–Animal Encounters in Science, Art, and Literature, are the result of the... Show moreThe articles included in the present issue of the Journal of the LUCAS Graduate Conference, titled Animals (Un)tamed. Human–Animal Encounters in Science, Art, and Literature, are the result of the diverse and interdisciplinary research on our multifaceted relationship with animals which is currently taking place. The fifth biennial LUCAS Graduate Conference, held in April 2019, shared this same theme. This conference on “Animals: Theory, Practice, and Representation” gave PhD and Master students the opportunity to present, exchange and discuss their research relating to animal studies with participants from diverse backgrounds. The resulting exchange focused on a re-examination of the relationship between humans and animals, and the definitions involved. Many of the articles in the present issue are result of the lively debate which took place during this conference. The contributions to this issue of JLGC reflect the wide variety of approaches in animal studies. Show less
