Works Cited
Dunayer, Joan. Speciesism. Derwood: RYCE, 2004. Print.
Singer, Peter. Animal Liberation. New York: New York Review, 1975. Print.
http://www.richardryder.co.uk/speciesism.html
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/200908/individual-animals-count-speciesism-doesnt-work
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/anim-rts.html
http://human-nonhuman.blogspot.com/2009/05/easygoing-speciesism.htm
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Director's Commentary- Compare/Contrast 5 Points
The first point discussed by our video was different examples of speciesism. As an introduction to the topic, we asked viewers whether they would fish for people, eat their best friend, or tie a friend to a tree. These are three common examples of actions that could be considered acts of speciesism- fishing, hunting, and tying dogs to trees/ treating them differently from humans. Hopefully, the viewers would respond 'no' to all three questions, leading into our next question: Why would they do these things to other animals? Inconsistent application of rights to different species, such as these examples, is discussed briefly in Infinite Nature (on pg. 166) as a possible sign that we may be guilty of speciesism.
The video then went on to offer a definition of speciesism, our next point. Class discussions and text defined speciesism as "the use of arbitrary criteria to defend the rights of humans to exploit animals and other units of nature" and the declaration that "other animals are inferior because they are not human." The text also went on to discuss the use of human characteristics to determine what animals should be granted rights. We decided to use a different definition for our video: "A failure in attitude or practice to afford any nonhuman being equal consideration and respect." While both are correct definitions, we thought that the second would fit better with the message of our video, and that having another definition of speciesism would help the class to better understand this topic.
Next, we discussed speciesism as a form of discrimination. This idea was discussed in class and in the text as well, and speciesism was compared to racism and sexism. Because the class discussion included a good bit of detail on this concept, we only briefly touched on it.
The fourth point discussed was the 'ladder' metaphor, a topic introduced early in class and in the class text. We took a creative spin on the information presented in class and showed different stuffed animals perched on the rungs of a playground ladder, with Lucy placing herself at the top to symbolize the way that humans frequently place themselves above other species. If you look closely, you can see that they are placed on rungs according to the value that is often given to their species- dogs near the top, rodents near the bottom.
Lastly, we introduced the 'bush' metaphor, which was also discussed in class and the text as an alternative way of viewing ecological interactions and importance. Once again, we chose to depict this creatively with a scene showing Kat and the stuffed animals scattered among a large bush. Lucy, our narrator, explained that this metaphor views humans as just another species in the world, or "just another little twig in the bush of life."
In addition to these five points, our video offered suggestions for avoiding speciesism and rethinking the way we treat other animals. The closing scene features Kat, Lucy, and Brett singing their version of a well-known Woody Allen song, and leaving the viewer with the idea that this land was made for people and animals.
The video then went on to offer a definition of speciesism, our next point. Class discussions and text defined speciesism as "the use of arbitrary criteria to defend the rights of humans to exploit animals and other units of nature" and the declaration that "other animals are inferior because they are not human." The text also went on to discuss the use of human characteristics to determine what animals should be granted rights. We decided to use a different definition for our video: "A failure in attitude or practice to afford any nonhuman being equal consideration and respect." While both are correct definitions, we thought that the second would fit better with the message of our video, and that having another definition of speciesism would help the class to better understand this topic.
Next, we discussed speciesism as a form of discrimination. This idea was discussed in class and in the text as well, and speciesism was compared to racism and sexism. Because the class discussion included a good bit of detail on this concept, we only briefly touched on it.
The fourth point discussed was the 'ladder' metaphor, a topic introduced early in class and in the class text. We took a creative spin on the information presented in class and showed different stuffed animals perched on the rungs of a playground ladder, with Lucy placing herself at the top to symbolize the way that humans frequently place themselves above other species. If you look closely, you can see that they are placed on rungs according to the value that is often given to their species- dogs near the top, rodents near the bottom.
Lastly, we introduced the 'bush' metaphor, which was also discussed in class and the text as an alternative way of viewing ecological interactions and importance. Once again, we chose to depict this creatively with a scene showing Kat and the stuffed animals scattered among a large bush. Lucy, our narrator, explained that this metaphor views humans as just another species in the world, or "just another little twig in the bush of life."
In addition to these five points, our video offered suggestions for avoiding speciesism and rethinking the way we treat other animals. The closing scene features Kat, Lucy, and Brett singing their version of a well-known Woody Allen song, and leaving the viewer with the idea that this land was made for people and animals.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Directors Commentary: Problem and Approach
Our assigned problem was to define and illustrate the critical concept of speciesism, comparing it to sexism and racism. We were questioned: are you speciesist if you favor intelligent, emotional animals with eyes, face and body type like ours? The reading in Infinite Nature was in Chapter 11, page 161-167.
After some research, we discussed the best way to present the problem to the general public in video format. We knew we wanted to act (we all could have been great movie stars). We knew there were several crucial points that needed to be covered. First, the viewer had to be made aware of the fact that we give severely preferential treatment to humans. In order to drive this point home, we compared treatment of animals with treatment of humans. In doing so, we introduced our three actresses, and facetiously placed them in positions in which humans frequently place animals (at the end of a fishing line, on a plate, tied to a tree) in order to let the audience see the absurdity of putting humans in these positions. These scenes are meant to be humorous, they are also meant to make the audience think. The next crucial point was the definition, which we wrote out for the audience to see. In order to emphasize it, it was presented by batman (played by Kat Miles). The third point was to inform the viewers of two differing world views: the commonly world view where humans are on the top of the ladder above all other species, contrasted with the world view where humans and other species are all part of a smaller bush. We demonstrated these and discussed them for the audience. The last point was kind of a disclaimer: we informed viewers that we were not urging them to get rid of their pets or serve rats at the dinner table. We were not trying to make a PETA video, nor were we trying to shock or disgust our viewers with unpleasant scenes of abused creatures. Our goal was to make viewers question where they considered themselves in relationship to other species, and to facilitate thought, which is the point we ended on, along with a beautifully sung rendition of “This Land is Your Land.”
After some research, we discussed the best way to present the problem to the general public in video format. We knew we wanted to act (we all could have been great movie stars). We knew there were several crucial points that needed to be covered. First, the viewer had to be made aware of the fact that we give severely preferential treatment to humans. In order to drive this point home, we compared treatment of animals with treatment of humans. In doing so, we introduced our three actresses, and facetiously placed them in positions in which humans frequently place animals (at the end of a fishing line, on a plate, tied to a tree) in order to let the audience see the absurdity of putting humans in these positions. These scenes are meant to be humorous, they are also meant to make the audience think. The next crucial point was the definition, which we wrote out for the audience to see. In order to emphasize it, it was presented by batman (played by Kat Miles). The third point was to inform the viewers of two differing world views: the commonly world view where humans are on the top of the ladder above all other species, contrasted with the world view where humans and other species are all part of a smaller bush. We demonstrated these and discussed them for the audience. The last point was kind of a disclaimer: we informed viewers that we were not urging them to get rid of their pets or serve rats at the dinner table. We were not trying to make a PETA video, nor were we trying to shock or disgust our viewers with unpleasant scenes of abused creatures. Our goal was to make viewers question where they considered themselves in relationship to other species, and to facilitate thought, which is the point we ended on, along with a beautifully sung rendition of “This Land is Your Land.”
Monday, September 7, 2009
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