The last of its kind
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Donna Mazza: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1135-5187
Non-Traditional Research Output
Original Creative Work
Document Type
Original Creative Work
Date of Publication
1-1-2020
Research Statement
Statement Background: This story is a work of speculative fiction which originated from research into de-extinction. This work is being done by Beth Shapiro of University of California, Santa Cruz and Revive and Restore researchers Ryan Phelan and Ben Novak, who use Crispr Cas-9 genetic editing to rescue endangered species and potentially restore extinct species. In 2020 a critically endangered Przewalski Horse was cloned using cryopreserved cells from 1980, so this story resonates with current events. This work is part of a series of stories (“Natural Deviations”) considering the impact of genetic research on society. Statement Contribution: This story considers what might happen when genetically altered animals are born defective and how this might be made commercially lucrative. Inspired by National Geographic’s coverage of trophy hunters from the U.S. (October/November 2017), it critiques this activity and its impact on animals. Drawing on the traditions of Shelley’s Frankenstein, it is concerned with hubris and scientific research but makes this contemporary by setting it in a remote Western Australian landscape where economic concerns come into conflict with ethical ones. This Marxist approach examines regional disadvantage in rural areas. Statement Significance: Westerly journal is WA's premier literary publication, established in 1956 and is listed in the world’s major cultural indexes. This edition (65.1) included work by writers across Australia and overseas. In 2018 this story was one of 13 shortlisted out of 863 entries for Victoria University/Overland short story competition. “The Last of its Kind” acknowledges Varuna, The National Writers House, and was produced during the author’s awarded 2018 Mick Dark Flagship Fellowship for Environmental Writing. Varuna, in Katoomba NSW, is a nationally renowned centre of excellence and provides retreats and support to Australian writers.
Publication Title
Westerly
Publisher
University of Western Australia
School
School of Arts and Humanities / Centre for Research in Entertainment, Arts, Technology, Education and Communications
RAS ID
32827
Copyright
free_to_read
First Page
62
Last Page
68
Comments
Mazza, D. (2020). The last of its kind. Westerly Magazine, 65(1), 62-68. https://westerlymag.com.au/issues/65-1/