ANIMAL INTERFACES AND (NON)HUMAN PERSONAS

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenon of animal interfaces from a critical digital culture and media perspective. It focuses specifically on the shared boundary between the animal and technology, considering how such interfaces shape animal subjectivity and persona. By tracking various case studies of dog-technology interfaces – including, space dogs, dog photography and bionic dogs – it explores the possibility of a possible ‘cydog’ persona. I argue that dogs interfacing technology represent a possible animal persona that uniquely captures the intricacies of animal being. The cydog is an additional concept to help think through nonhuman persona that are irreducible and subjective, yet remained enframed by human actions. Guided by theorists Donna Haraway, Joanna Zylinska and Akira Lippit, I argue that interfaces play a key role in cydog encounters, creating increasingly complicated interactions that simultaneously mask anthropocentric pursuit and unmask nonhuman personas.