ABSTRACT
This chapter considers some examples to probe the relationship between visual representations of animals and the role they might play as a catalyst for positive change that, ideally, would result in a critical mass of people willing to commit to veganism, vegetarianism, or even minor steps, for ethical and environmental reasons. Visual culture communicating blatant animal injustice has received widespread public attention in recent years, especially through the unflagging dedication of animal rights/welfare organizations and fiercely committed individuals who often put themselves at extreme risk to obtain undercover blood-and-guts footage of torture and slaughter. Prehistoric cave paintings featured hunting scenes of large mammals, and animal images in art have been universal and ubiquitous for countless centuries. While it may seem like an odd subject for fine art, the portrayal of meat or dead animals can have significant aesthetic, moral, and social value.
