Dissertation ProposalModule Code : APME 303

Module Title : Dissertation

Dissertation Title: !

Explain why anthropomorphism has been popular in English Literature and the media from the 19th Century to the present day with

reference to psychological, socio-economic and religious attitudes.

- Anthropomorphism is a noun: the attribution of a human form or behaviour to a deity or animal

- The word anthropomorphism comes from the Greek words anthropos (man) and morphs (form)

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Earliest examples of using anthropomorphism in the media was used by the Egyptians. The Egyptians used the anthropomorphic form more than any other to depict the interactions of humans and the gods in religious iconography. http://escholarship.org/uc/item/5s54w4tc#page-2

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I wish to outline the psychology behind the use of anthropomorphism in children’s literature. I will explain why we find this concept endearing and relevant by comparing and contrasting the use of language, social attitudes, religious views and environmental issues portrayed in the media from the 19th Century to the context of today’s fascination with anthropomorphic characters in advertising and social media. The quotes below will form a frame work of interpretation for my research. !!- For centuries, many children’s books have featured humanised animal characters. !!- These characters are often seen as protagonists in stories. !!- Lucy Sprague Mitchell who was an American educator, believed that “the appeal of such

mythical and fantastic beings comes from how children desire "direct" language "told in terms of images— visual, auditory, tactile and muscle images”. !

- Furthermore, another author remarked that an "animal costume" provides "a way to emphasise or even exaggerate a particular characteristic”. http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/pioneers-our-field-lucy-sprague-mitchell-teaching-whole-child

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Bambi - written by Felix Salten is an iconic love story, emphasising that man and animal are equally vulnerable to psychological and physiological issues in life’s rich tapestry. (The German Quarterly, Vol.84 Summer 2012 pp 381-383)

This Youtube clip shows the complexities of a human courting relationship using anthropomorphic animated Skunks. The story is told with visual language that is easy to identify with and desensitises physiological issues.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(Produced by Walt Disney, Bambi, A Life in the Woods is a 1942 American animated drama film directed by David Hand.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6_9t8zbwnc

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Initial areas of Research

I wish to research and investigate authors of the 19th Century such as Edward Lear, Beatrix Potter, C.S. Lewis and Rudyard Kipling, who used anthropomorphic characters in their literature. I want to compare and contrast their work in the context of today with such authors as Yann Martel, Life of Pi, George Orwell’s, Animal Farm and advertisements such as Compare the Meerkat.Com.

I will research why books, advertisements, film, animations and political cartoonists etc use anthropomorphism to attract a wide audience.

Initial research suggests that anthropomorphic characters spread emotional distance between the reader or voyeur. This seems to be especially true if the content is powerful or painful and is therefore more acceptable to the audience. Furthermore, historical research suggests that class, socio-economic circumstances and religious factors affect a child’s learning development. Anthropomorphism has been identified as a tool to use in children’s media that plays a significant role in teaching morals, emotional responses, decision making and cultural awareness.

I also want to find out why when the political, religious, social, or personal risks are high, the use of anthropomorphism encourages intellectual and psychological distance, allowing us to critically explore uncomfortable and dangerous situations in text or visual media.

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The “Compare the Meerkat” advertisements created by Darren Walsh in 2009, are an incredible success story.

The series of advertisements, which have nothing to do with car insurance as such, have been so successful due to their playfulness and silliness. Here, a 21st Century fictional Russian anthropomorphic Meerkat is both endearing and funny, capturing the world’s attention through childlike anthropomorphic role play. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in the cinema 2 for 1 tickets promotion which is a clever media ploy appealing to a nationwide demographic.

“The sheer silliness of the adverts - which have nothing to do with car insurance and everything to do with, as they say in the industry, 'building brand awareness' - have made them incredibly popular.” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1205909/How-make-TVs-funniest-ad-Its-seemples.html#ixzz3qK48EDYa

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Research Methods:-

My Research methods will include primary and secondary research. I think that in order to fully comprehend the psychology aspect of anthropomorphism, I would like to also interview. Marcus has suggested that I interview a friend of his who is associated with Advertising who may be able to answer some questions on the use of anthropomorphism in the media today.

Interviews and other research methods will enable me to form a comparison to the language that authors used in the past to those of the present day and how changes in the world have impacted on today’s media aspirations and expectations. This accumulation of data will enable me to analyse people’s points of view to be used in my dissertation.

I will be using a wide variety of secondary research in order to collect optimum information to make the best discussion and appraisals for my dissertation. These will undoubtedly include journals, e-books, books and articles assessed via the Plymouth Portal and from other libraries.

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Justification:- !I wish to find the most in-depth and concise research in order to deliver a well rounded contextually correct appraisal of the topic, therefore, it is paramount to use a wide variety of research methods in order to achieve my goal. !I would like to justify the reason why anthropomorphism continues to be a very popular form of entertainment in the media.

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Books - The Jungle Book, Kipling Rudyard, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (19 Jan. 2015)

- The Tales of Jemima Puddle Duck, Potter, Beatrix, Warne Bros.

- Life of Pi, Yann, Martel New Edition (2003)

- The complete Nonsense and other Verse, Lear, Edward, Penguin Classics (7 Sept 2006)

- Alice in Wonderland, Lewis, C.S, Macmillan Children's Books; Main Market Ed. edition (5 Feb. 2015)

!Journals: - Journal of experimental social psychology, Saving Mr Nature: Anthropomorphism connectedness to and Protectiveness

towards Nature. (Journal of experimental psychology 49 (2013) 514-521.

- Orwell’s Animal Farm and 1984, Kearney Anthony: the explicator summer 1996, 54, 4 Arts and Humanities Full text pg 238.

- The Poetry Foundation, Edward Lear 1812 -1888 (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear)

- Discovering Literature: Romantics and Victorians. Anthropomorphism in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

- Anthropomorphism in Children’s Books leads to less factual learning about animals (Nature World News), by James A Foley.

- Conversation: Life of Pi. PBS News Hour, transcript November 11 2002 at 1200 AMETD

- Anthropomorphic Deities, Wilkinson Richard H, University of Arizona, Egyptian Exhibition, publication 04.13.2008, UCLA Encyclopaedia of Egyptology

- Polly Sapakie (2011) Freud’s Notion of the Uncanny in Animal Farm. The Explicator 69:1, 10-12.

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