Using Art to Confront the Absent Referent: ‘a bird at my table’
From Ashley Watson's 'a bird at my table'
Later, as I began to work on my first book I was struggling to find a way to explain why people eat animals and why it is so difficult to discuss the issue. I realized that it was because of what I call the structure of the absent referent: Behind every meal of meat is an absence: the death of the animal whose place the meat takes. The “absent referent” is that which separates the meat eater from the animal and the animal from the end product. The function of the absent referent is to keep our “meat” separated from any idea that she or he was once an animal, to keep something from being seen as having been someone.
A few months ago I received a comment from Ashley Watson on a post.
I have channeled this desire [to be an activist in my own way] into my art practice where I focus on the inter-related oppression of women and animals, inspired by Carol Adams work. I try to get my work out there, to also get the message out to others, like me who learn visually. If done right getting an animal-rights message out through art can seem less combative or hostile, allowing people to come to the meaning in their own way.
When I followed the link to her site and saw her photography series, ‘a bird at my table’, I was drawn in. She has visually illustrated what Carol Adams means by the absent referent; at the same time, her images force the connection to be made between individual and end product, perhaps bringing the individual chickens themselves to people’s consciousness. The human body, recognizable as a human and posed to mimic that of the dead chickens, connects the two. Most people will have sympathetic feelings towards the human body, and her anonymity encourages us to associate her with people to whom we have a personal connection. The images are disturbing, but not overly graphic; they are thought provoking, allowing people to make the mental connections on their own.
She also has a video, which brings up and illustrates an excellent question: “What makes for a grievable life?”
I was close to tears watching it. The imagery was simple and powerful, and captured a great deal of my own feelings, and what motivates me to advocate for the animals.
Ashley’s ‘a bird at my table’ photographs and the video piece are being installed at Rutgers University for a feminist art program there. She said:
It’s an amazing opportunity to reach a wider audience of people who are already savvy about the oppression of women and who may have a greater appreciation for or empathy towards the oppression of non-human animals as well. I hope that my artwork can allow people to approach this problem in a new non-threatening way.
It is inspiring to see what people can do.
Stephanie Ernst
Marji
Kelly G.
Deb
Mary Martin
This video stirred up deep profound thoughts and feelings..The simplicity of it’s depiction was awesomely Powerful!
Moving on many levels… It absolutely illustrates the point that if one consumes flesh, their bodies become a “graveyard”. Stirring indeed.
This is lovely, Deb (and Ashley!) – thanks for sharing.
re: The dismemberment and “processing” of animals into unrecognizable parts – it amazes me that people have so little compassion for birds, given that, of all the animals “we” consume, the corpses of birds (chickens and turkeys, mostly) appear in their most complete forms, and with the greatest frequency. Thanksgiving turkeys may be headless, but still you can see the animal who used to be there. You can’t say that of a “steak” or piece of “bacon.”
Or perhaps humans don’t need the same degree of distancing from chickens as we do cows and pigs, because birds are that much more “alien” to us?
I never heard of Ashley Watson so I’m glad you posted this. I think an artist or any creative person is an activist just as much as someone tabling or doing traditional protesting—especially when the art grabs us by the heart. There are many ways to reach different people.
I followed your link to “Introverts as Activists” at Invisible Voices. Great post.
Ashley Watson is the real deal! Her art is original, fearless, and packed with meaning, not to mention aesthetically stunning. She is that rare type of artist who can draw anything, think critically, and has a lot to say about the world. My advice to readers is to start collecting her work!
Great post!!!!!
Great video…
Carol J Adams continues to be an inspiration for so many artists activists it’s so wonderful to see this.
The Sexual Politics Of Meat written by Carol J Adams is one of the most profound books ever written. It really opened my eyes when I first became vegan.
It makes important connections between feminism and animal rights and demonstrates clearly that to fight for one groups rights does not distract from another groups liberation.
I was inspired by Carol’s work many years ago and composed a song with her re: the sexual politics of meat.
Also anyone interested further in Carol’s ideas can read this recent interview with her here re: oppression of farmed animals.
Blog: VEGAN SANCTUARY
Post: Carol J. Adams/Interview
Link:
http://vegansanctuary.blogspot.com/2009/11/throughout-history-justification-for.html
(Deb, if you fwd me an email address… I’ll send you an mp3 of the song I did w/Carol for my bands album.)
@Teresa – that’s exactly how I felt! Glad you enjoyed it…
@Bea – I was so impressed. Glad I’m not the only one!
@Kelly – I’ve wondered that myself. I think you’re right, that for many people birds are more “alien” to us, and thus easier to dismiss. Could also be that the disassociation is stronger simply because people are faced with the reminder more (buying the whole, recognizable body) and thus build thicker walls? I know many people who are afraid of birds too, and I wonder if that adds to it also.
@MJ – I hadn’t heard of Ashley’s work until she commented on my blog! I know she wants to get to some animal rights conferences, so hopefully she’ll become better known within the AR community. I certainly think there is a lot of potential for her work to have impact! Glad you enjoyed the Introverts as Activists post as well. I’m always interested in creative types of activism, as you can see! :)
@Mary Ann – Sounds like you’re a fan! :) I can certainly understand why!
@Phillip – I haven’t read Carol’s book(s) yet, they’ve been on my list for years now, and I never have quite gotten to them. I hear so many people talking about them, I suppose I’ve felt like I have gotten the Clif Notes version, but I do want to read Sexual Politics of Meat very soon. And actually, now that I think about it, part of the “Clif Notes” experience was listening to your music! (I’ve always liked how dedicated Consolidated was to discussing heavy issues, especially intersections.)
Incredibly provocative! I love the video, very poignant.
I do find it interesting, though, that many packages of meat, chicken especially, do have a picture of a live animal. Foster Farms’ logo includes a white leghorn rooster prominently displayed, for example. Petaluma Poultry also has a chicken as their logo and, of course, their carcasses display wholly unrealistic bucolic scenes. The latter is quite cartoonish while the former is very realistic looking.
I was going to say that it’s been awhile since I’ve purchased any meat products, packaged or otherwise, and then it occurred to me – I’ve *never* shopped for meat myself, since I went vegetarian before moving out of my parents’ home. Possibly this random factoid makes me happier than it should!
And yes, Suicide Food!
@Marji – Since you brought up the side of cartoonish figures… I can’t help but mention the sarcastic ridicule of the industries portrayal of the “happy” or “contented animal”, who goes so willingly to his/her slaughter. “Suicide” food certainly shows a different perspective: http://www.suicidefood.blogspot.com/
… If I could edit – I’d correct the run-on sentence. Sorry ’bout that! :)
Hey, fyi: if anyone is in NJ and interested in catching the exhibit, here are the details:
http://iwa.rutgers.edu/
Forthcoming Exhibitions & Events
January 19 – March 7, 2010: “Gendered Agency:” Aliza Augustine and Ashley Watson
Institute for Women & Art at Rutgers
191 College Avenue, 2nd Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Also, here’s the link to Rutgers’ Arts & Culture page:
http://www.rutgers.edu/campus-life/arts-culture
Thanks for finding the link! I had looked for one, but it either wasn’t posted yet or I didn’t do a good job of looking. I might actually try to get up there for it. It’s semi-reasonable for a day trip!