Log in

goodpods headphones icon

To access all our features

Open the Goodpods app
Close icon
Animalogy \ The Animals in Our Everyday Words & Phrases - What's in a Name? The Soul of an Animal

What's in a Name? The Soul of an Animal

Animalogy \ The Animals in Our Everyday Words & Phrases

07/07/17 • 37 min

plus icon
Not bookmarked icon
Share icon

In a pivotal scene in David Lynch’s film, The Elephant Man, the main character turns on those who are cruelly taunting him and declares “I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I...am...a man.” The crowd disperses. Ever since the first time I saw this movie, I’ve had the same reaction. As a sympathetic viewer, I’m relieved that Merrick decries his abusers, but in making a claim for the dignity he deserves as a man, the implication is that the abuse would be acceptable if he were “an animal.” And yet, human and non-human, we are all animals. We are all made of the same stuff, evident even in the word “animal,” whose root word means “soul.”

Supporters make this podcast possible, and they receive written transcripts of each and every episode.

07/07/17 • 37 min

plus icon
Not bookmarked icon
Share icon

Episode Comments

0.0

out of 5

Star filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey Icon
Star filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey Icon
Star filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey Icon
Star filled grey IconStar filled grey Icon
Star filled grey Icon

No ratings yet

Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconStar icon

eg., What part of this podcast did you like? Ask a question to the host or other listeners...

Post

Generate a badge

Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode

Select type & size
Open dropdown icon
share badge image

<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/animalogy-the-animals-in-our-everyday-words-and-phrases-8872/whats-in-a-name-the-soul-of-an-animal-299119"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to what's in a name? the soul of an animal on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>

Copy