Researcher Network member Rebecca Stanton discusses her current research into depictions of direct and indirect animal abuse throughout Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) films for our Society & Culture Portfolio.
My research explores depictions of direct and indirect animal abuse throughout Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) films. Non-human animals (hereafter: animals) are depicted in almost-every WDAS film. Their roles are varied: they are both the clothes and the clothed, the eaters and the eaten, the abused and the abusers. They are almost-always there; sometimes alive, sometimes dead. However, whilst their happy lives and practical uses are at the forefront of Disney entertainment, the violent realities of animal abuse are usually hidden from view.
My PhD project explores how and why violence towards animals is attenuated in animated WDAS films. It will answer questions such as: why do Disney depict happy, skilled and hygienic mice (e.g. The Great Mouse Detective and The Rescuers Down Under), whilst the reality is that a large percentage of mice are subject to violent cosmetic and medical tests for human benefits? Why are viewers told that fur is completely unacceptable, but that leather is totally fine (e.g. 101 Dalmatians)? And, why are dogs usually friendly, but wolves often aggressive?
This research has been undertaken since previous studies have shown that unrealistic depictions of animals are one of the main causes of normalised, everyday animal abuse. The violent realities of animal abuse tend to be negated in popular representations, in order to indicate that animals serve a particular function for humans, such as companionship, entertainment, or food. Disney, and most areas of the Western mainstream media, are minimising and denying the violent realities of infringements on animal welfare, animal abuse, and speciesism. This is a problem because it is unlikely that attitudes towards animal welfare will change whilst the media continues to attenuate animal abuse.
Most people become vegan because of the harsh realities of animal abuse. The meat, fish, and dairy industries are notorious for their poor animal welfare standards. However, this reality is often hidden from the public’s view, making it easier for consumers to use animal products without guilt. Disney highlights this point perfectly in their films and other media. WDAS films show both live animals and animal products (meat, fur, and so forth), but rarely the abuse that occurs in-between a living and a dead animal. This project relates mostly to The Vegan Society’s ‘Society and Culture’ portfolio and I would be interested in hearing from other researchers in this area.
The views expressed by our Research News contributors are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
For further information on my research, you can contact me via e-mail: [email protected] or via Twitter: @Rebecca_Stanton
The views expressed by our Research News contributors are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
