Cultural constructions of fighting birds: the cockfight world in the Canary Islands

斗鸡是一个有争议的事件，因为它，至少从外界的角度来看，集中在暴力，侵略，伤害和死亡。根据Marvin（1984：60）的说法，斗鸡属于一组活动，如狩猎（例如，Sánchez-Garrido（2010）; Marvin（2007）），体育（例如，Del-Campo，2003年），以及其他涉及动物、人类或不同表演之间竞争的游戏和庆祝活动。文化人类学通常关注这些习俗，试图了解它们表达了人类和动物之间的关系（Marvin，1984：60）。考虑到这一点，该项目探索了加那利群岛的斗鸡世界，连续三年（2016-2018）研究了广泛的问题。根据我现有的研究成果，我将撰写一本专著，探讨和分析整个加那利群岛的斗鸡世界。鉴于其法律的地位，加那利群岛的斗鸡并不像英国和大多数欧洲国家那样，是在秘密地点举行的违禁活动，参加者可能会被起诉。因此，这项研究不仅限于斗鸡本身，而且还探索了斗鸡的整个世界，包括繁殖、训练和社交，这些都带来了公开的斗鸡和表演。在我的博士论文中，我认为理解斗鸡的饲养对于充分理解加那利饲养者和爱好者赋予斗鸡的意义至关重要。从本质上讲，爱好者去观看和欣赏比赛的戏剧，战斗鸟的表现。这个项目将询问如何以及为什么饲养员和爱好者认为战斗鸟类作为一个独特的性质的动物。在我的博士论文的最后一章“战斗鸟不是小狗”中，我认为战斗鸟是由人类有选择地繁殖和饲养的，但饲养者不认为它们是家养或驯服的动物。在这方面，它们与安达卢西亚的斗牛具有相同的特征（Marvin，1988：88-90），这正是我的专著和第一篇学术论文的交叉点。这个项目将帮助我解决斗牛和斗鸟之间的相似性和差异，以提供更好的理解这两种做法，并阐明了有趣的文化术语种姓（种姓）和拉扎（种族）。马文在HAS和斗牛方面的专业知识，特别是他与安达卢西亚的西班牙斗牛饲养员的关系，是我选择他作为主要导师的原因。他参与实地工作对于确保接触到斗牛饲养员至关重要。在安达卢西亚为期一周的实地考察中，我们将能够获得斗牛饲养员对品种和血统的第一手了解，以补充专著第5章和关于斗鸟和斗牛的学术论文中包含的信息。这种深入的民族志研究也可能会对政策和实践提供一些有趣的见解，包括公共卫生风险和更负责任的自然资源管理。话虽如此，丽贝卡·卡西迪（伦敦大学金史密斯分校）作为该奖学金的第二位导师，也将是必不可少的。她在赌博方面的专业知识和她对多物种人类学的兴趣，特别是在繁殖的文化思想方面，将是专著第5章和关于种姓（种姓）和种族（种族）的学术论文的主要贡献。除了专著和学术文章本身的高影响力价值，我参加学术会议和研讨会将引发围绕人类动物研究的辩论，赌博和赌博的人类学，以及动物权利的话题。

Cockfighting is a controversial event because of its, at least from outside perspectives, focus on violence, aggression, injury, and death. According to Marvin (1984:60) cockfighting lies within a group of activities such as hunting (e.g., Sánchez-Garrido (2010); Marvin (2007)), sports (e.g., Del-Campo, 2003), and other games and celebrations which involve competition between animals, humans or different performances. Cultural anthropology has usually paid attention to these practices to try to understand what, and how, they express relationships between and among humans and animals (Marvin, 1984:60). With this in mind, the project explores the world of cockfighting in the Canary Islands, where over three consecutive years (2016-2018) a wide range of issues were researched. Drawing on my existing research, I will produce a monograph that will explore and analyse the world of cockfighting in the Canary Islands as a whole.Given its legal status, the cockfight in the Canary Islands is not a prohibited event held in secret locations, where those who attend may be prosecuted, as is the case in the UK and most European countries. Therefore, the study was not restricted to the fights themselves, but it was also an exploration of the encompassing world of cockfighting, including breeding, training, and socialising, that brought about those public fights and performances. In my PhD I argued that understanding the rearing of gamecocks is essential to fully grasp the meaning given to the fights by Canarian breeders and aficionados. Essentially, aficionados go to watch and admire the drama of the contest, the fighting birds' performance. This project will interrogate how and why breeders and aficionados perceive fighting birds as animals of a unique nature. In the final chapter of my PhD thesis, "Fighting birds are not puppies" I argued that fighting birds are selectively bred and raised by humans, but breeders do not consider them domestic nor tamed animals. In this respect, they share these characteristics with the fighting bull in Andalusia (Marvin, 1988:88-90).That is exactly the point where my monograph and the first academic paper will cross paths. This project will help me address the similarities and differences between fighting bulls and fighting birds to provide a better understanding of both practices and shed some light on the interesting cultural terms of casta (caste) and raza (race). No such analysis of these key terms relating to notions of breed and pedigree has previously been undertaken.Marvin's expertise on HAS and bullfighting, particularly his relationship with Spanish bullfighting breeders in Andalusia, have been the reason for choosing him as my primary mentor. His participation in the fieldwork is vital to secure access to bullfighting breeders. During the expected week of fieldwork in Andalusia, we will be able to have first-hand access to bullfighting breeders' notions of breed and pedigree to supplement the information included in chapter 5 of the monograph and the academic paper on fighting birds and fighting bulls. In-depth ethnographic study of this kind may also give some interesting insights regarding policy and practice, including public health risks and more responsible management of natural resources.Having said that, Rebecca Cassidy's role (Goldsmiths, University of London), as a second mentor in this fellowship, will also be essential. Her expertise on gambling and her interests in multispecies anthropology, especially in the cultural ideas of breeding, will be a major contribution for chapter 5 of the monograph and the academic paper on casta (caste) and raza (race).As well as the high impact value of the monograph and the academic articles themselves, my participation in academic conferences and seminars will generate debate around human-animal studies, the anthropology of betting and gambling, and the topic of animal rights.