An octopus performs human–animal entanglements
Abstract
This analysis examines key concepts of entanglement, performance, and the human–animal relationship through the case of Paul the Octopus, housed at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen. Paul gained global fame for correctly ‘predicting’ match outcomes of UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. His role within a corporate entertainment framework is compared with the nineteenth-century Crystal Palace aquarium, revealing both continuities and changes in how animals are spectacularised.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cephalopods and Marine Biology
Geographies of human-animal interactions
History of Science and Natural History
Publication details
- Pages
- 3–22
- Publication date
- 5 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter