Geschichte in Gummistiefeln

Nutztierkörper

Abstract

English abstract: This introduction has three key points as its subject. The first is the conflict between theoretical approaches and source-based case analyses of body history. The second is the central shift in the history of the body from letting live and making die to letting die and making live. Thirdly, this means that the bodies of farm animals do not enter the historical analysis from their end – hence as meat –, but from the point of view of making life, hence as living organisms. The aim is to outline how a body history of living farm animals can provide new perspectives for analysing the transformation of living bodies not only externally, but also under the skin or coat, in the animals’ muscles and their behaviour. In addition, this editorial offers an overview of the contributions collected in this thematic issue.