HOW YOU CAN HELP ANIMALS!
Campaign to End Simulated Abuse of Animals in Entertainment and Product
Sales
Through
the efforts of animal rights and animal welfare organizations, some of the
physical abuse of, and other cruelty to, live animals in movies and on
television has been ameliorated. Trip wires for horses, for example, have
largely been eliminated, at least in domestic productions.
However,
instead of live animals being abused and cruelly treated, thanks to advances in
animation and other technology a related phenomenon has surfaced: "fake" animals
are being abused and cruelly treated in the name of "entertainment" and to sell
products.
An
alien "dog" confesses after being roughed up (Men In Black). Another "dog" is
thrown out a window (There's Something About Mary). Post-copulation, a man falls
atop a "cat" (EdTV). Another "cat" is swung on its tail (Idle Hands). An
over-the-hill football player punches out a "horse" (Blazing Saddles). A TV ad
for an on-line shopping site shows real looking (but plastic) gerbils being shot
out of a cannon. For years, cartoons -- the Saturday morning TV pacifier for
countless children -- have visited various forms of mayhem on hapless
human-created animals of every description.
Why
does this happen in movies and television? Why do the producers of
"entertainment" and the purveyors of products use animals at all, let alone in
this manner? Why do they believe that even simulated animal abuse and cruelty
sells tickets and tacos?
One
reason is that a staple of "comedy" has always been the
"laugh-at-someone-else's-expense." The distinguished man's toupee lifted from
above by a fishing pole, the formally dressed society matron hit in the face
with a pie, the stern cop slipping on a banana peel. This kind of slapstick
"humor" necessarily has always contained element of sadism. However, it was --
and remains -- less acceptable to be sadistic toward humans than toward animals,
who, even in simulated form, are apparently fair game for virtually any
simulated depiction of abuse and cruelty.
Another
reason is technological. Today, the advance in robotics and computer imaging
allows the simulation of virtually anything, from the depiction of earth's
creation to the lives of amoebas. From the slaughter of endangered Siberian
tigers, to the torture of butterflies.
The
combination of these factors -- "humorous sadism" and technological facility, in
the service of crass commercialism -- has today resulted in abuses and cruelties
described above and countless more, some much worse.
Apart
from the generally desensitizing consequences of these depictions -- not only
for children, but for adults as well -- it is well known that there is a
correlation between mistreatment of animals and mistreatment of humans, often
reaching the level of murder.
Accordingly,
the simulated abuse of and cruelty to animals in motion pictures and on
television is at least irresponsible and at worst contributes to a culture of
violence and negatively impacts on humans and animals alike.
In
an effort to put an end to the simulated abuse of, and other cruelty to, animals
in motion pictures and television, ISAR has launching a nation-wide petition
campaign aimed at demanding that movie producers, television companies, and
advertisers and their agencies, desist from simulating harm to animals in order
to sell "entertainment" and other products.
Petition
WHEREAS,
contemporary motion pictures and television shows are replete with the use of
live and simulated animals, and
WHEREAS,
such use for commercial purposes is because of the inherent appeal animals have
to children and adults alike, and
WHEREAS,
although through the efforts of animal rights and animal welfare organizations
the abuse of and cruelty to animals used in entertainment and sale of products
has been somewhat ameliorated, increasingly abuse and cruelty to animals is
simulated, and
WHEREAS,
through the use of modern technology such simulations appears to be real,
and
WHEREAS,
as a result of that apparent reality an explicit and implicit message is sent
that abusing and being cruel to animals is acceptable, even humorous, conduct,
and
WHEREAS,
such a message is at least irresponsible and at worst contributes to a culture
of abuse and cruelty to humans and animals alike, and
WHEREAS,
it is the responsibility of motion picture producers, television companies,
advertisers and their agencies, not to foster abuse of and cruelty to
animals,
NOW,
THEREFORE we the undersigned, hereby demand that those movie producers,
television companies, and advertisers and their agencies to whom this petition
will be delivered, immediately cease the simulated abuse of and cruelty to
animals in the entertainment and products they sell for public consumption.
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