Harry Thurston’s "Ova Aves": Exposure to the Animal "Other" in the Anthropocene
Abstract
This article offers an ecocritical reading of the collection Ova Aves (2011), co-authoredby award-winning Canadian poet-naturalist Harry Thurston and prestigious photographer Thaddeus Holownia. The book gathers thirteen poem-photograph pairings that constitute a moving meditation on the animal other as it manifests in bird eggs originally kept at Mount Allison University, New Brunswick, curated by ornithologist Gay Hansen. By drawing readers’ attention to the uniqueness and fragility of eggs, Ova Aves is a timely reminder of the need for humankind to rethink how we relate to the nonhuman in the Anthropocene.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Ecocriticism and Environmental Literature
Poetry Analysis and Criticism
Artistic and Creative Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Lublin Studies in Modern Languages and Literature
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 78–90
- Publication date
- 4 March 2026
- Language
- EN