Patagonian animality and modernity at the margins

https://doi.org/10.25058/20112742.n32.05

Paula Gabriela Núñez
Orcid ID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2008-2643
IIDYPCA, Conicet, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Bariloche, Argentina
pnunez@unrn.edu.ar

Carolina Lema
Orcid ID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7435-3739
IIDYPCA, Conicet, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Bariloche, Argentina
carolina.lema2@gmail.com

Carolina Michel
Orcid ID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8244-2715
IIDYPCA, Conicet, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Bariloche, Argentina
michel@agro.uba.ar

Abstract:

This article explores how hierarchical and biased acknowledgement of animal worlds has an impact on Argentinian Patagonian modernity, giving rise to unequal valuations of society. This is examined in two processes. One examines how a social sector is situated in an irrational animality that justifies a permanent wardship; the other looks at the valuation of some animals like development actors and agents, while others are condemned to extinction. This antagonistic human-animal valuation is explored on a documentary corpus made up of scientific studies, censal data, and regulations, from the constitution of Patagonia as a state at the end of the 20^th century up to present.

Keywords: Patagonia, animality, late incorporation, knowledge.