Holy bonsai wolves: Chihuahuas and the Paris Hilton syndrome

• Published in: International journal of cultural studies Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 93 - 109
• Main Author: Redmalm, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2014
• Subjects: animal–human relations; anomalies; binary oppositions; chihuahuas; Cultural change; dichotomies; Dogs; Donna Haraway; Handbooks; hudographies; Humor; Humour; Mexico; Myth; Myths; Paris Hilton; Popular culture; Popularity; Ritual; Rituals; Social Order; Sociologi; Sociology; Stereotypes; Western Society; dichotomies; humor; animal–human relations; popular culture; Chihuahuas; dogs; Paris Hilton; Donna Haraway; hudographies; anomalies; binary oppositions
• ISSN: 1367-8779; 1460-356X; 1460-356X
• DOI: 10.1177/1367877912464539

This article examines the reasons for the Chihuahua breed’s popularity in contemporary western society by looking at two sets of data: Chihuahua handbooks and The Simple Life show, starring Paris Hilton and her Chihuahua Tinkerbell. The article argues that the Chihuahua is a holy anomaly: a creature which can be used in myths and rituals to temporarily alleviate the tension-filled binary oppositions and stereotypes inherent in a particular culture, in order to celebrate and reinforce that culture’s categories and social order. The Chihuahua – or the bonsai wolf – transcends two binary oppositions fundamental to contemporary westerners: subject/object and nature/culture. Although the Chihuahua challenges a number of related binary oppositions, it is generally dismissed as a matter for humor, low-brow entertainment or expressions of sentimentality, rendering ritual encounters with Chihuahuas harmless. The article concludes by asking: what would happen if humans actually started listening to what the Chihuahua is telling them?