Date of Award

5-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Liberal Studies

College

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

First Advisor

Miranda Elston

Second Advisor

Elizabeth Howie

Third Advisor

Gillian Richards-Greaves

Abstract

Zoos functions as a site where human-animal relationships are structured through built environments that mediate control and representation. This study examines zoos as heterotopias—spaces where power and surveillance are negotiated between human observers and captive nonhuman animals. While zoos are often framed as spaces of conservation and education, their architectural design reinforces hierarchies of observation and confinement, shaping both human perceptions of nature and the lived experiences of nonhuman animals. This research focuses on Asian elephants as a critical species within this framework, exploring how their captivity illuminates tensions between human-imposed structures and nonhuman autonomy. Drawing from theories of heterotopia, utopian thought, and spatial control, this research interrogates how zoo architecture constructs the visibility and regulation of elephants, reducing their agency by making them primarily objects of display. By analyzing the interplay associated with confinement, this study contributes to broader ethical discussions on human-animal relationships, challenging the ways in which zoo design upholds systems of power that dictate the terms of captivity. Ultimately, this work calls for a reimagining of zoological spaces, advocating for architectural and ethical frameworks that prioritize the agency and welfare of nonhuman animals within these controlled environments.

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