The Arrogant Gaze

The arrogant gaze, as described by Acampora, is a gaze which demands some sort of exhibition by the object being looked at and these expectations can be very demeaning and compromising to an objects true nature. The observer will often expect certain results by employing this gaze and expect to feel a certain emotion after the object being viewed has performed its desired action.

In the world of zoos people use the arrogant gaze and expect animals to behave as they would in the wild. This expectation is wildly illogical and demeans the animals integrity. First of all, the animal has been taken out of its natural habitat and placed in a less than adequate sized facility where it is expected to perform natural functions. This habitat created for the animals often times does not suit the needs of many animals because of migration and, in the case of birds, does not allow them to freely fly where they please. Second, some of the animals being exhibited are nocturnal and because the zoos are only open during the day the trainers must reverse their natural instincts in order to create this exhibitionism that tourists desire. This is a direct violation of the animals rights because it compromises the animal's autonomy from humans and forces the animal to engage in acts that are not usual or unnatural for its species. Thirdly, the animals are expected to rely on the care their trainers provide for them for food, water, shelter and protection. The animals, being taken out of a natural habitat, become totally depended upon trainers because their rights of predation and gathering are taken away because most of their habitat is made of concrete or some other manufactured material. Also, some animals have their wings clipped or their claws clipped in order to prevent flying or harm to trainers; this takes away the ability of animals to escape predation or to become predators and again forces an unnatural situation upon them.

So, it is fairly evident based upon the unnatural settings and conditions the animals face that the functioning of zoos is morally wrong. It is also fairly obvious that severe reform must occur within the zoo world if people are truly concerned about the integrity of the animals and if humans call themselves protectors of animal rights. However, I am concerned if there will ever be a zoo that will protect the moral rights of the animals while at the same time give humans the exhibition and observation of the animals they desire. What do you think a solution could be?