Changing Tides

What defines a dog? And what constitutes a dog? Maybe, what does a dog do? Perhaps, what is the function of a dog? Finally, what exactly changes a dog?

As we've explored throughout the beginning and ends of this course, a dog is a far more complicated symbol than meets the eye. Its function has continued throughout time. It has also changed and shifted throughout history. It's possibly just a handbag or a political statement. It embodies art, film, and literature. However, while we've looked at the past and the present, now we turn to the future.

The future is volatile, unpredictable. No one can predict with certainty what a dog will become. A symbol for purity. A regression into its primal state. The canine may rise, or fall, with prominence.

The relationship between mankind and animals has been progressing in ways that are unheard of previously. Greater autonomy and respect for animals are becoming more prominent, only if ever more slightly. People hold a greater awareness of the usage of dogs, and animals, as symbols. They don't represent themselves, only humans. The complicated dynamic continues to morph.

As written by Susan McHugh, "The creatures powerful enough to be man's best friends also feed our deepest fears and prejudices (203)." Dogs bring out the best and worst in ourselves. They're more than a symbol. They've become a source of power, a symbol of prestige, or a critique of wealth. They can be used as a source of comfort or a target for our anger. Dogs are versatile.

One of the descriptions for Dogs in Art is exploring what makes a dog, a dog. I am probably more confused than at the beginning of the semester with how to answer this statement. I can say, however, that a dog is a powerful symbol, hidden throughout the depths of history. Society will continue to change and hopefully progress. Culture, and ultimately, our representations of the world around us will continually be altered as well. The fluid definition of what makes a dog, a dog, will continue to adjust to whatever humans make it to be.

Futuristic Dog. (2014)

Satyana Rayan. Source: Flickr