Anthropomorphism of Olivia

Now for the third movement...

Discussing progress…
Ekaterina: How is her piano practice coming along?
Zuria: Good. She’s nearly mastered the Rachmaninov. 
Ekaterina: Amazing. You don’t think there’s an element of anthropomorphism in this?
Zuria: Anthro what?
Ekaterina: You know, ascribing human characteristics to a god, or an animal. You talk to her, right?
Zuria: And she answers.
Ekaterina: Hmm. And I suppose she helps cook dinner?
Zuria: Oh, sometimes. She makes suggestions.
Ekaterina: But never pork?
Zuria: Oh no. She’s vegan.
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Voice-over
A relationship with an animal, or an object, can extend and fulfill one. Especially in these viral times. A relationship with a real animal is better though. Although soon we may have avatars or cyborgs. And they may be trainable.

Anthropomorphism

On cross-species communication…

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Don Quentin: Why do you call the cat Boris?

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Pete Gonzales: He looks like a Boris.

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Don Quentin: And you talk to him as if he were human. It’s not as though he understands human language.

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Pete Gonzales: Sometimes we communicate using his language.

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Don Quentin: You meow?

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Pete Gonzales: And sometimes I blink at him. Then he blinks back.

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Don Quentin: So, it’s a bilingual relationship?

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Pete Gonzales: Well, at times it seems we’re talking past each other.

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Don Quentin: Like the Chinese expression about a chicken talking to a duck.

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Voice-over

In writing, anthropomorphism helps us relate to animals, they come to life. The stories become more nuanced in meaning. Human language added complexity to the plots of Animal Farm, Cats and The Lion King. Imagine if those stories had been told through grunts, meows and blinks.

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Inside-out campfire

ARE YOU SURE THIS FIRE
ISN'T INSIDE-OUT?

On observing porcelain rabbits in a PMA's terrarium…

Sam: What are they doing?

Pam: They're warming themselves.

Sam: What is this?

Pam: It's a log.

Sam: And these?

Pam: Stones, it's a campfire.

Sam: Campfires usually have stones round the outside and logs in the middle.

Pam: It's a post-modern campfire.

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Voice-over

If you take a non-camper to the mountains, and merely tell them, “gather some sticks and stones,” something odd like an inside-out campfire could result. Post-modern artists (PMAs) without survival skills face cold nights.

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