Nelly Mäekivi | University of Tartu (original) (raw)
Papers by Nelly Mäekivi
Biosemiotics, Mar 27, 2023
S .................................................................................................. more S ................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 CONTACTS OF PRESENTERS .......................................................................................................................... 85
Miscellanea Anthropologica et Sociologica, 2014
Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsiooneLoomaaedu leidub peaaegu kõigis suure... more Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsiooneLoomaaedu leidub peaaegu kõigis suuremates linnades ja neid külastab kokku enam kui 700 miljonit inimest aastas. Ometi puudub selge arusaam, kuidas inimesed, meie hoiakud ja tehiskeskkond mõjutavad loomaaialoomade pidamispõhimõtteid ja -tingimusi. Samuti on vaja sügavamat mõistmist sellest, kuidas loomaaialoomad ja kujundatud keskkond mõjutavad meie arusaamu ja ettekujutusi neist. Loomaaed on hübriidne keskkond, kus loomaaia tegevustes kohtuvad ning põimuvad kultuurilised ja looduslikud nähtused. Lisaks kujundavad loomaaias aset leidvat liigisisest ning liikide vahelist (ka inimese) lävimist sellised tegurid nagu loomaaia ajalugu, väljapanekute kujundus, enesekuvand ja asutuse eesmärgid. Doktoritöös näitame semiootilise lähenemise olulisust selle keerulise uurimisobjekti mõtestamisel ehk analüüsime loomaaeda kui kultuurilist nähtust, selle praktilisi ettevõtmisi liigikaitses, teadustöös ja loodushariduses, ning keskendume l...
lo Squaderno, 2016
Cities prove to be hybrid environments. The concept of hybrid is derived from the writings of Fre... more Cities prove to be hybrid environments. The concept of hybrid is derived from the writings of French philosopher Bruno Latour, who applied the concept to describe different phenomena that have embedded in them the generally made distinctions between culture and nature, human and other animal (e.g. Latour 1993).
The concept of role is wide-spread in social sciences. It is also used in ethology, but only to d... more The concept of role is wide-spread in social sciences. It is also used in ethology, but only to describe social structure which exists in species under observation. This paper is an attempt to utilize the concept of role in order to analyze cases of social communication in animals. T hi s co py is fo r p er so al u se o nl y d is tri bu tio n pr oh ib ite d. T hi s co py is fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y di st rib ut io n pr oh ib ite d. T hi s co py is fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y di st rib ut io n pr oh ib ite d. T hi s co py is fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y di st rib ut io n pr oh ib ite d. T hi s co py is fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y di st rib ut io n pr oh ib ite d. -
Sign Systems Studies, 2020
Nils Lindahl Elliot has significantly contributed to semiotic analysis of nature and to the ways ... more Nils Lindahl Elliot has significantly contributed to semiotic analysis of nature and to the ways in which it is mediated, especially with his transdisciplinary social semeiotic approach that he developed in Mediating Nature (2006). This book propelled his recognition in the field of semiotic studies, especially amongst the ecosemiotic community. In Lindahl Elliot’s newest book Observing Wildlife in Tropical Forests. 1: A Geosemeiotic Approach he delves even deeper into transdisciplinary inquiry of observing wildlife, using what he calls a geosemeiotic approach (with the extra “e” serving as a tribute to Peirce). More traditionally, geosemiotics is seen as a research field that studies social meanings of signs, discourses and actions as related to a specific place (Scollon, Scollon 2003). Although both Lindahl Elliot’s and Scollon and Scollon’s approaches incorporate Peircean semiotics when introducing the nature of signs, and consider the specificity of the place of communication in...
Cuteness, as dealt with in the existing semiotic and product design literatures, is often regarde... more Cuteness, as dealt with in the existing semiotic and product design literatures, is often regarded as a purely visual perception. This paper provides an alternative to existing lines of thinking by offering a more holistic, multisensory approach to humans’ perception of cuteness with regard to animal mascots and animals themselves. We adopt a biosemiotic approach to cuteness and product design studies with the employment of Umwelt theory and associated concepts of multisensory perception. Additionally, we analyze Kindchenschema, that is different visually perceivable characteristics that are considered to be properties of cute animals, in order to establish the multisensory aspect of the affective dimension of cuteness. In explicating the interaction between the senses, we analyze cases of sensory incongruence that can affect one’s perceptual experience of animal characters and animals. We then argue for the need of a multisensory approach to the study of cuteness and the implicatio...
Sign Systems Studies, 2019
In the animation and design of cartoon characters, animators have often turned to the study of bi... more In the animation and design of cartoon characters, animators have often turned to the study of biological theories and observation of human actors and animals to capture lifelike movements and emotions more successfully. Charles Darwin’s principle of antithesis, as one of the principles he considered to be responsible for the expression of emotions in animals, would seem to be of distinctive importance in the development of animation. By revisiting Darwin’s original idea in the context of the principles of animation formulated by Thomas and Johnston, we are able to assess its application and relevance in the expressions of emotions in cartoon animal characters. The article concentrates on the emotive function of animal social communication as outlined in zoosemiotics, while taking into account that the expressions of animal characters are directed at the viewer. The principle of antithesis, as a descriptive tool, aids us in considering the diversity of modalities used simultaneously...
Sign Systems Studies, 2016
This paper analyses the cultural and biosemiotic bases of human attitudes towards other species. ... more This paper analyses the cultural and biosemiotic bases of human attitudes towards other species. A critical stance is taken towards species neutrality and it is shown that human attitudes towards different animal species differ depending on the psychological dispositions of the people, biosemiotic conditions (e.g. umwelt stuctures), cultural connotations and symbolic meanings. In real-life environments, such as zoological gardens, both biosemiotic and cultural aspects influence which animals are chosen for display, as well as the various ways in which they are displayed and interpreted. These semiotic dispositions are further used as motifs in staging, personifying or de-personifying animals in order to modify visitors' perceptions and attitudes. As a case study, the contrasting interpretations of culling a giraffe at the Copenhagen zoo are discussed. The communicative encounters and shifting per ceptions are mapped on the scales of welfaristic, conservational, dominionistic, and utilitarian approaches. The methodological approach described in this article integrates static and dynamical views by proposing to analyse the semiotic potential of animals and the dynamics of communicative interactions in combination.
Biosemiotics, 2016
Communication and behaviour of animals living ex situ has been one of the major sources of knowle... more Communication and behaviour of animals living ex situ has been one of the major sources of knowledge about wild animals. Nevertheless, it is also acknowledged that depending on the environment that the animals inhabit (or are kept in), there are differences in their communication and behaviour. With some species (especially large mammals) it is difficult to reproduce their natural environment to an extent that excludes deviations from the behaviour and communication exhibited by animals living in situ. In zoological gardens, welfare measures are introduced in order to counteract the effects of the captive environment and to grant an individual's good physical and psychological well-being. The relation between good welfare and species-specific communication and behaviour is discussed, and as a result, a general model of ex situ animal communication and behaviour is proposed. The suggested model is inclusive of differences between captive animals and free-ranging animals and serves to explain the welfare-related reasons underlying individual animal's deviations from species-specific behaviour and communication.
Proceedings of the 10th World Congress of the International Association For Semiotic Studies Recurso Electronico Culture of Communication Communication of Culture Culture De La Communication Communication De La Culture Cultura De La Comunicacion Comunicacion De La Cultura 2012 Isbn 978 84 9749 522 6, 2012
The concept of role is widespread in social sciences in discussing social structure and interacti... more The concept of role is widespread in social sciences in discussing social structure and interaction. It is also used in ethology but mainly to describe social structure when existent in those species under observation. Communication is the means for social interaction in each and every species. This presentation is an attempt to utilize the concept of role in order to analyze all cases of social communication where animal interaction is interdependent. Latter means arguing that the relationship constituted by two animals in a communicating act is mutually binding because and as long as both animals stay in character. The wider aim of this paper is to introduce yet unfamiliar vocabulary to the field of zoosemiotic research-it could be one of the ways of bringing social and natural sciences closer together and facilitating the dialogue between them. To achieve the goal in showing that interdependent social roles as well as relationships emerge and are created in communication, the following steps are taken: Firstly, the concept of social role is re-conceptualized in a way that permits it to be used in consideration with other species' communicative abilities besides human; Secondly, zoosemiotic communication theory is adapted to include role concept and thereby latter's area of application is revealed; Thirdly, by concentrating on the act of social communication and analyzing animals' behavior, the concept of role is applied to refer to conduct and certain rules which make interaction mutually dependent for both parties. Fourthly, situations which can be described by terms role conflict and role change are considered in order to see their effect on ommunicating animals and on the act of communication itself.
Miscellanea Anthropologica et Sociologica, 2014
Biosemiotics, 2018
Animal welfare is a complex matter that includes scientific, ethical, economic and other dimensio... more Animal welfare is a complex matter that includes scientific, ethical, economic and other dimensions. Despite the existence of more comprehensive approaches to animal welfare and the obvious shortcomings of the 'Five Freedoms', for zoological gardens the freedoms still constitute the general guidelines to be followed. These guidelines reflect both, an ethical view and a science based approach. Analysis reveals that the potential ineptitude of the 'Five Freedoms' lies in the manifold perceptions that people have of other animals. These perceptions are biased by our own (mammalian) umwelt, which is intertwined with different cultural attitudes towards other species (e.g. humanistic, moralistic, ecologistic). Perceptions of animals may be held simultaneously by different interest groups and may often be incompatible, thus often making it difficult to follow the 'Five Freedoms' in practice. We aim to recognise and consider the multiplicity of factors that, besides animal subjectivity, are relevant in understanding this hybrid environment. The moral value and practical applicability of the 'Five Freedoms' are sometimes undermined by prioritising some freedoms over others and by species bias. Both are characteristic phenomena of the zoo as a hybrid environment where other species are managed by humans. Given deficiencies are further amplified by humanistic and moralistic attitudes that people hold.
In each and every culture people live next to and with other species – be it wild or domesticated... more In each and every culture people live next to and with other species – be it wild or domesticated animals. Other animals have an impact on our ways of life, sometimes even to an extent that equals how we influence theirs. They are our companions, sources of food, recreation and education, etc. It follows quite naturally that social sciences express and have always expressed an extraordinarily keen interest in other animals – the use and function of other species, how cultures generate animal related symbols, their similarities and differences from us, how people think and depict other animals, etc. ‘Art, literature, sociology, anthropology, film, theatre, philosophy, religion – there are animals in all of them.’(Gorman 2012) However, concerning social sciences and humanities, it is important to stress the fact that these fields of knowledge have a long history of inquiring primarily about humans – even when studying other species.
Semiotica
The analysis of social communication in other-than-human animals poses several theoretical challe... more The analysis of social communication in other-than-human animals poses several theoretical challenges due to the complexity of individual and extra-individual variables. Some previous studies have found a valuable solution in Uexküll’s work by expanding and adapting its usage for the study of communication in a heurtistic manner. An Umwelt analysis provides a theoretical toolbox, which allows researchers to take an emic perspective on the lives and phenomenal world of other animals. However, Umwelt and its elaborations do not allow for a clear distinction between acts of perception and communication and seem to ignore factors that escape the specific communication contexts under analysis. Thus, moving away from the existing linear and cyclical approaches to communication, we propose a complementary approach to the study of social communication by combining Barnlund’s transactional model of communication with Umwelt theory and the functional circle more specifically. Our elaborated m...
Biosemiotics, Mar 27, 2023
S .................................................................................................. more S ................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 CONTACTS OF PRESENTERS .......................................................................................................................... 85
Miscellanea Anthropologica et Sociologica, 2014
Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsiooneLoomaaedu leidub peaaegu kõigis suure... more Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsiooneLoomaaedu leidub peaaegu kõigis suuremates linnades ja neid külastab kokku enam kui 700 miljonit inimest aastas. Ometi puudub selge arusaam, kuidas inimesed, meie hoiakud ja tehiskeskkond mõjutavad loomaaialoomade pidamispõhimõtteid ja -tingimusi. Samuti on vaja sügavamat mõistmist sellest, kuidas loomaaialoomad ja kujundatud keskkond mõjutavad meie arusaamu ja ettekujutusi neist. Loomaaed on hübriidne keskkond, kus loomaaia tegevustes kohtuvad ning põimuvad kultuurilised ja looduslikud nähtused. Lisaks kujundavad loomaaias aset leidvat liigisisest ning liikide vahelist (ka inimese) lävimist sellised tegurid nagu loomaaia ajalugu, väljapanekute kujundus, enesekuvand ja asutuse eesmärgid. Doktoritöös näitame semiootilise lähenemise olulisust selle keerulise uurimisobjekti mõtestamisel ehk analüüsime loomaaeda kui kultuurilist nähtust, selle praktilisi ettevõtmisi liigikaitses, teadustöös ja loodushariduses, ning keskendume l...
lo Squaderno, 2016
Cities prove to be hybrid environments. The concept of hybrid is derived from the writings of Fre... more Cities prove to be hybrid environments. The concept of hybrid is derived from the writings of French philosopher Bruno Latour, who applied the concept to describe different phenomena that have embedded in them the generally made distinctions between culture and nature, human and other animal (e.g. Latour 1993).
The concept of role is wide-spread in social sciences. It is also used in ethology, but only to d... more The concept of role is wide-spread in social sciences. It is also used in ethology, but only to describe social structure which exists in species under observation. This paper is an attempt to utilize the concept of role in order to analyze cases of social communication in animals. T hi s co py is fo r p er so al u se o nl y d is tri bu tio n pr oh ib ite d. T hi s co py is fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y di st rib ut io n pr oh ib ite d. T hi s co py is fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y di st rib ut io n pr oh ib ite d. T hi s co py is fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y di st rib ut io n pr oh ib ite d. T hi s co py is fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y di st rib ut io n pr oh ib ite d. -
Sign Systems Studies, 2020
Nils Lindahl Elliot has significantly contributed to semiotic analysis of nature and to the ways ... more Nils Lindahl Elliot has significantly contributed to semiotic analysis of nature and to the ways in which it is mediated, especially with his transdisciplinary social semeiotic approach that he developed in Mediating Nature (2006). This book propelled his recognition in the field of semiotic studies, especially amongst the ecosemiotic community. In Lindahl Elliot’s newest book Observing Wildlife in Tropical Forests. 1: A Geosemeiotic Approach he delves even deeper into transdisciplinary inquiry of observing wildlife, using what he calls a geosemeiotic approach (with the extra “e” serving as a tribute to Peirce). More traditionally, geosemiotics is seen as a research field that studies social meanings of signs, discourses and actions as related to a specific place (Scollon, Scollon 2003). Although both Lindahl Elliot’s and Scollon and Scollon’s approaches incorporate Peircean semiotics when introducing the nature of signs, and consider the specificity of the place of communication in...
Cuteness, as dealt with in the existing semiotic and product design literatures, is often regarde... more Cuteness, as dealt with in the existing semiotic and product design literatures, is often regarded as a purely visual perception. This paper provides an alternative to existing lines of thinking by offering a more holistic, multisensory approach to humans’ perception of cuteness with regard to animal mascots and animals themselves. We adopt a biosemiotic approach to cuteness and product design studies with the employment of Umwelt theory and associated concepts of multisensory perception. Additionally, we analyze Kindchenschema, that is different visually perceivable characteristics that are considered to be properties of cute animals, in order to establish the multisensory aspect of the affective dimension of cuteness. In explicating the interaction between the senses, we analyze cases of sensory incongruence that can affect one’s perceptual experience of animal characters and animals. We then argue for the need of a multisensory approach to the study of cuteness and the implicatio...
Sign Systems Studies, 2019
In the animation and design of cartoon characters, animators have often turned to the study of bi... more In the animation and design of cartoon characters, animators have often turned to the study of biological theories and observation of human actors and animals to capture lifelike movements and emotions more successfully. Charles Darwin’s principle of antithesis, as one of the principles he considered to be responsible for the expression of emotions in animals, would seem to be of distinctive importance in the development of animation. By revisiting Darwin’s original idea in the context of the principles of animation formulated by Thomas and Johnston, we are able to assess its application and relevance in the expressions of emotions in cartoon animal characters. The article concentrates on the emotive function of animal social communication as outlined in zoosemiotics, while taking into account that the expressions of animal characters are directed at the viewer. The principle of antithesis, as a descriptive tool, aids us in considering the diversity of modalities used simultaneously...
Sign Systems Studies, 2016
This paper analyses the cultural and biosemiotic bases of human attitudes towards other species. ... more This paper analyses the cultural and biosemiotic bases of human attitudes towards other species. A critical stance is taken towards species neutrality and it is shown that human attitudes towards different animal species differ depending on the psychological dispositions of the people, biosemiotic conditions (e.g. umwelt stuctures), cultural connotations and symbolic meanings. In real-life environments, such as zoological gardens, both biosemiotic and cultural aspects influence which animals are chosen for display, as well as the various ways in which they are displayed and interpreted. These semiotic dispositions are further used as motifs in staging, personifying or de-personifying animals in order to modify visitors' perceptions and attitudes. As a case study, the contrasting interpretations of culling a giraffe at the Copenhagen zoo are discussed. The communicative encounters and shifting per ceptions are mapped on the scales of welfaristic, conservational, dominionistic, and utilitarian approaches. The methodological approach described in this article integrates static and dynamical views by proposing to analyse the semiotic potential of animals and the dynamics of communicative interactions in combination.
Biosemiotics, 2016
Communication and behaviour of animals living ex situ has been one of the major sources of knowle... more Communication and behaviour of animals living ex situ has been one of the major sources of knowledge about wild animals. Nevertheless, it is also acknowledged that depending on the environment that the animals inhabit (or are kept in), there are differences in their communication and behaviour. With some species (especially large mammals) it is difficult to reproduce their natural environment to an extent that excludes deviations from the behaviour and communication exhibited by animals living in situ. In zoological gardens, welfare measures are introduced in order to counteract the effects of the captive environment and to grant an individual's good physical and psychological well-being. The relation between good welfare and species-specific communication and behaviour is discussed, and as a result, a general model of ex situ animal communication and behaviour is proposed. The suggested model is inclusive of differences between captive animals and free-ranging animals and serves to explain the welfare-related reasons underlying individual animal's deviations from species-specific behaviour and communication.
Proceedings of the 10th World Congress of the International Association For Semiotic Studies Recurso Electronico Culture of Communication Communication of Culture Culture De La Communication Communication De La Culture Cultura De La Comunicacion Comunicacion De La Cultura 2012 Isbn 978 84 9749 522 6, 2012
The concept of role is widespread in social sciences in discussing social structure and interacti... more The concept of role is widespread in social sciences in discussing social structure and interaction. It is also used in ethology but mainly to describe social structure when existent in those species under observation. Communication is the means for social interaction in each and every species. This presentation is an attempt to utilize the concept of role in order to analyze all cases of social communication where animal interaction is interdependent. Latter means arguing that the relationship constituted by two animals in a communicating act is mutually binding because and as long as both animals stay in character. The wider aim of this paper is to introduce yet unfamiliar vocabulary to the field of zoosemiotic research-it could be one of the ways of bringing social and natural sciences closer together and facilitating the dialogue between them. To achieve the goal in showing that interdependent social roles as well as relationships emerge and are created in communication, the following steps are taken: Firstly, the concept of social role is re-conceptualized in a way that permits it to be used in consideration with other species' communicative abilities besides human; Secondly, zoosemiotic communication theory is adapted to include role concept and thereby latter's area of application is revealed; Thirdly, by concentrating on the act of social communication and analyzing animals' behavior, the concept of role is applied to refer to conduct and certain rules which make interaction mutually dependent for both parties. Fourthly, situations which can be described by terms role conflict and role change are considered in order to see their effect on ommunicating animals and on the act of communication itself.
Miscellanea Anthropologica et Sociologica, 2014
Biosemiotics, 2018
Animal welfare is a complex matter that includes scientific, ethical, economic and other dimensio... more Animal welfare is a complex matter that includes scientific, ethical, economic and other dimensions. Despite the existence of more comprehensive approaches to animal welfare and the obvious shortcomings of the 'Five Freedoms', for zoological gardens the freedoms still constitute the general guidelines to be followed. These guidelines reflect both, an ethical view and a science based approach. Analysis reveals that the potential ineptitude of the 'Five Freedoms' lies in the manifold perceptions that people have of other animals. These perceptions are biased by our own (mammalian) umwelt, which is intertwined with different cultural attitudes towards other species (e.g. humanistic, moralistic, ecologistic). Perceptions of animals may be held simultaneously by different interest groups and may often be incompatible, thus often making it difficult to follow the 'Five Freedoms' in practice. We aim to recognise and consider the multiplicity of factors that, besides animal subjectivity, are relevant in understanding this hybrid environment. The moral value and practical applicability of the 'Five Freedoms' are sometimes undermined by prioritising some freedoms over others and by species bias. Both are characteristic phenomena of the zoo as a hybrid environment where other species are managed by humans. Given deficiencies are further amplified by humanistic and moralistic attitudes that people hold.
In each and every culture people live next to and with other species – be it wild or domesticated... more In each and every culture people live next to and with other species – be it wild or domesticated animals. Other animals have an impact on our ways of life, sometimes even to an extent that equals how we influence theirs. They are our companions, sources of food, recreation and education, etc. It follows quite naturally that social sciences express and have always expressed an extraordinarily keen interest in other animals – the use and function of other species, how cultures generate animal related symbols, their similarities and differences from us, how people think and depict other animals, etc. ‘Art, literature, sociology, anthropology, film, theatre, philosophy, religion – there are animals in all of them.’(Gorman 2012) However, concerning social sciences and humanities, it is important to stress the fact that these fields of knowledge have a long history of inquiring primarily about humans – even when studying other species.
Semiotica
The analysis of social communication in other-than-human animals poses several theoretical challe... more The analysis of social communication in other-than-human animals poses several theoretical challenges due to the complexity of individual and extra-individual variables. Some previous studies have found a valuable solution in Uexküll’s work by expanding and adapting its usage for the study of communication in a heurtistic manner. An Umwelt analysis provides a theoretical toolbox, which allows researchers to take an emic perspective on the lives and phenomenal world of other animals. However, Umwelt and its elaborations do not allow for a clear distinction between acts of perception and communication and seem to ignore factors that escape the specific communication contexts under analysis. Thus, moving away from the existing linear and cyclical approaches to communication, we propose a complementary approach to the study of social communication by combining Barnlund’s transactional model of communication with Umwelt theory and the functional circle more specifically. Our elaborated m...
![Research paper thumbnail of Animal Umwelten in a Changing World. Zoosemiotic Perspectives [FULL OPEN ACCESS]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/50543039/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](“Animal Umwelten in a Changing World. Zoosemiotic Perspectives” raises semiotic questions of huma... more “Animal Umwelten in a Changing World. Zoosemiotic Perspectives” raises semiotic questions of human-animal relations: what is the semiotic character of different species, how humans endow animals with meaning, and how animal sign exchange and communication has coped with environmental change. The book takes a zoosemiotic approach and considers different species as being integrated with the environment via their specific umwelt or subjective perceptual world. The authors elaborate J. v. Uexküll’s concept of umwelt to make it applicable for analyzing complex and dynamical interactions between animals, humans, environment and culture. The opening chapters of the book present a framework for philosophical, historical, epistemological and methodological aspects of zoosemiotic research. These initial considerations are followed by specific case studies: on human–animal interactions in zoological gardens, communication in the teams of visually disabled persons and guiding dogs, semiotics of the animal condition in philosophy, historical changes in the role of animals in human households, the semiotics of predation, cultural perception of novel species, and other topics. The authors belong to the research group in zoosemiotics and human–animal relations based in the Department of Semiotics at the University of Tartu in Estonia, and in the University of Stavanger in Norway.