“We’re in this (Chicken) Shit Together”is an art intervention that is composed of a zine as well as stickers that are designed to engage an environmentally conscious, but still carnivorous audience. It is widely known that factory farming is not only an animal welfare disaster, but it is also an environmental problem as well as a human health problem. The zine intends to educate consumers with the facts about the chicken factory farming industry in a matter of fact manner and helps consumers take an active role in changing this industry. Our meat consumption per capita is increasing and the United States is the largest consumer of chicken and meat. Factory farming of chicken is the largest segment of US agriculture and is a multi-million dollar industry in the United States that in recent years has capitalized on environmentally and health conscious consumers who seek organic and free range/humanely raised chickens. As consumers, we contribute to the hegemonic, patriarchal, colonial system of industrial agriculture. We can take some, but not all, of the responsibility – as the business model of industrial farmed chicken has altered their tactics to celebrate greenwashed products, such as cage-free, free range, organic, humanely raised etc. that are more expensive, increasing their profits. The factory farm model causes great harm, not only to the animals but also to our planet and our health.
Inspired by Underground Comix’s “Yellow Dog” magazine and Occupy Wall Street’s “Tidal” magazine, the use of text and drawing as storytelling devices was deliberate in order to meaningfully engage readers. Comics, a means of telling stories, are becoming a more commonly utilized educational tool – often used to illustrate a point of view on current social, political, or cultural topics and serve as a bridge between art, activism, and mass culture. This bridge between art, activism, and mass culture is especially important when it comes to presenting overwhelming and distressing information as it engages the audience with humor and accessible information in a matter of fact manner. As a form of popular education, both the zine and stickers can be printed and circulated.
Downloadable sticker:
This art intervention involved placing stickers in the egg and chicken sections of supermarkets. Download the sticker and do it yourself!