The relationship between man and cat in the medieval and early modern Low Countries: II. The home cat and the tormented cat
- E. Aerts
Abstract
Only from the middle of the 17th century did the cat receive a modest place in the context of the new home decoration that had contributed to a process of identity formation and cultural distinction. This status improvement did not prevent the vast majority of the feline population from being focused on survival in their daily life. Even at the end of the period, many cats were the subject of brutal public entertainment and structural violence. The real revolution in our relationship with the cat is of recent date. However, anthropomorphization, in which all kinds of human qualities are uncritically attributed to the cat, continues unabated.
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