When someone tries to tell you that "the science is settled", ask them to define "science". If they believe that something like this is "scientific" in any way, shape or form, I think you can safely ignore them from that point onward.
The article's abstract is even more confusing:
The article aims to transform narratives surrounding Utah’s Great Salt Lake, often referred to as “America’s Dead Sea,” by reimagining how brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) are perceived in science, culture, and art. It introduces the concept of hydrosexuality to bridge these realms, thereby enriching feminist blue posthumanities and feminist biology through art-based practices and queer advocacy. By navigating the environmental narrative of the GSL, the hydrosexual perspective challenges settler science by exploring the connections between the reproductive system of brine shrimp and the economy, ecology and culture. The article provides a framework for integrative cultural analysis that bolsters arguments about the multilayered exploitation of the lake and amplifies voices that recognize the brine shrimp as vital to the survival of multiple species and to the GSL as a unique ecosystem. Furthermore, this cultural analysis draws inspiration from low trophic theory and Queer Death Studies. This multifaceted approach is exemplified by two case studies in the arts, which gradually alter white humans’ perceptions and understandings of the brine shrimp, helping to reimagine the GSL in the context of rapid climate change.
After reading that, I couldn't help but wonder whether this was another "prank the science journal" effort, where a fake article was so cleverly written as to confound the editorial staff and persuade them to publish it. Alas, not, it isn't. To confirm the authors' perspective, they even created a video showing themselves in a "Cyber wedding to the brine shrimp".
I absolutely, emphatically do NOT wish to know how the honeymoon played out! I suspect crabs have nothing on brine shrimp when it comes to consummation . . . !
I rather suspect that any allegedly "reputable" and "scientific" journal publishing such utter crap has lost all claim to being either "reputable" or "scientific", and can henceforth be classified (in its print editions, at least) as birdcage liner and/or emergency TP.
Peter
9 comments:
As a Latter-day Saint, can confirm that we want nothing to do with this. I don't really care what madness people get up to, they can do their thing as long as they leave me and mine alone and don't try to drag us into it, but just . . . why?
Sure, I care about managing the ecology - it's literally part of our religion to be good stewards of the earth - but why on earth would you make it weirdly sexual?
That said, there are all kinds of crazy things happening in our backyard anymore, thanks to the droves of Californians moving in. Which, ironically, is further unbalancing our delicate mountain desert ecosystems due to higher water usage and land degradation as developers destroy good soil for expensive, crap housing, while the newcomers harp on the generational farmers for wasting water.
The only narrative about the Great Salt lake that is important is how it pertains to the Bonneville Salt Flats.
OK I'm all in on "SCIENCE" and doing basic research.....What I see here is a research project fueled with LBGQRFT bulls**t! This is the kind of stuff that I'm a'prayin' that gets de-funded.
Apparently, "feminist blue posthumanities," "blue humanities," and so on is the oceanic and lake version of green humanities. Translated into English, this means bringing lots of interpretations and eco-philosophies to the study of bodies of water and of human use of bodies of water (aquaculture, hydropower, that sort of thing).
TXRed
Oh please yes! What ever agency is funding this study should have their funding cut.
"queer death studies" , I hope they study this in 1st hand detail. Anyone 'marrying' brine fish is mentally disturbed and needs help or removal from society.
Exile1981
Bet there was the odor of rotting fish in the air.
And I thought brine shrimp were just Pink Flamingo food. I do grow a bunch for my aquarium fish sometimes, makes them frisky & wanting to breed.
The fact that they made a video doesn't affect my thoughts that this is another "prank the journal" effort, written to make the journal staff look incompetent or worse. It simple means they took a simple step to look more important.
Anyone who like the article's abstract implies, spends hours pondering, "how brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) are perceived in science, culture, and art. It introduces the concept of hydrosexuality to bridge these realms, thereby enriching feminist blue posthumanities and feminist biology through art-based practices and queer advocacy" seriously needs to find a good counselor to help them. Nobody cares about that perspective.
What matters to the brine shrimp in particular and the Great Salt Lake in particular is survival in their environment. Like all biological systems, they're under repetitive stresses and survival is all-important.
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