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CULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY is the study of insects' impacts on human culture.
"Cultural entomology studies the reasons, beliefs, and symbolism behind the inclusion
of insects within all facets of the humanities."-Dexter Sear (Cultural Entomology Digest, 1993)
Cultural entomology is "the branch of investigation that addresses the influence of insects (and other terrestrial Arthropoda, including arachnids, myriapods, etc) in literature, language, music, the arts, interpretive history, religion, and recreation."-Charles Hogue (CE Digest, 1993) Humans have included insects in art for millenia, either symbolically, literally or physically (insect products or bodies as art media). The practice of incorporating insects in art is one of my cultural entomology interests. Klein BA, Brosius T. In press. A Planet in Peril and the Insect Muse. In: A Cultural History of Insects in the Modern Age. R Peterson, Ed. Bloomsbury Publ., London, UK. Klein BA, Brosius T. 2022. Insects in art during an age of environmental turmoil. Insects 13:448. doi: 10.3390/insects13050448 Klein BA. 2022. Wax, wings, and swarms: Insects and their products as art media. Annual Review of Entomology. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-020821-060803 Knowable Magazine article Smithsonian Magazine article Klein BA. 2017. The six-legged muse. Introduction to: Inspired by Insects: Bugs in Contemporary Art. EA Rooney, Ed. Schiffer, Publ., Inc., Atglen, PA, USA. Introduction Klein BA. 2015. Encaustics: repurposing the architecture of insects. Introduction to The Buzz Stops Here: an exhibition of encaustic artwork about the science and conservation of bees. Art.Science.Gallery., Austin, TX, USA. The Buzz Stops Here catalogue, Introduction Klein BA. 2013. Standing on the shoulders of wee giants. Introduction to ECLOSION: a juried group exhibition of insect-inspired art. Art.Science.Gallery., Austin, TX, USA. ECLOSION catalogue Klein BA. 2012. The curious connection between insects and dreams. Insects. 3:1-17. doi:10.3390/insects3010001 Klein BA. 2007. Insects and Humans: a relationship recorded in visual art. In: : Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships. Bekoff, M., ed. Greenwood Publ., Portsmouth, NH. pdf, html (no images) Klein BA. 2005. Experimental Art: Esthetics uncovered in the science of entomology. Entomological Society of America meetings. (abstract) It's art if it's not anything else...unless of course it's a bicycle wheel or a urinal." -Arnold Klein Klein BA. 2003. Par for the palette: Insects and arachnids as art media. In: Insects in Oral Literature and Traditions. Motte-Florac, E. and J. M. C. Thomas, eds. Peeters, Paris. pdf, html (no images) Klein BA. 2003. Fabricating Insects: The unnatural history of insects on display. Entomological Society of America meetings. (abstract) pdf |