Zoos explored, Funeral arranging

11/11/2015 28 min

Listen "Zoos explored, Funeral arranging"

Episode Synopsis

Zoos in the modern world: Laurie Taylor talks to David Grazian, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania and author of 'American Zoo: A Sociological Safari'. Zoos blur the boundaries between culture and nature; animals and humans and separate civilisation from the 'wild'. They are centres of conservation, as well as recreation and reveal the way we project our desires on to the animal kingdom. So how do zoos juggle their many contradictory meanings and what is their future?Also, funeral arranging. Isabelle Szmigin, Professor of Marketing at the University of Birmingham, explores 'consumption' choices which are forced through circumstance and can involve a competing range of sentiments, from love to obligation and regret.Producer: Jayne Egerton.

More episodes of the podcast Thinking Allowed

Dogs 15/07/2025
Death 17/06/2025
Solidarity 03/06/2025
Motherhood 25/03/2025
Smoking 18/03/2025
Dress Culture 11/03/2025