Representation of nonhuman animals is a complex and multifaceted subject. Through the act of
representation, it is important for us to consider the impact humans have on constructing the
identity of nonhuman animals. Due to the variety of ways humans engage in the act of
representation, this project looks at how three representative modes (literature, film, and science)
shape our understanding of whales and construct a whale’s identity in the process. The study is
based on a human-animal studies framework and uses Vinciane Despret’s notion of agencement
to deal with the subject of nonhuman identity.
