S3, Ep18: Being an Animal Rights Photojournalist with Jo-Anne McArthur
Feb 10, 2021
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Guest Jo-Anne McArthur, award-winning photojournalist, shares her journey into veganism and animal rights, the inspiration behind her powerful photos, and her latest book 'Hidden: Animals in the Anthropocene'. They discuss the importance of capturing impactful images, the challenges of staying empathetic, and reflections on a career as an animal rights photojournalist.
Jo-Anne MacArthur emphasizes the importance of capturing the stories and images of animals in their moments of suffering, using art to bring attention to their plight.
Jo-Anne MacArthur challenges the perception of animal abusers and urges understanding, acknowledging systemic forces and cultural norms that perpetuate animal cruelty.
Deep dives
The Power of Animal Photojournalism
Animal rights photojournalist Joanna MacArthur discusses the importance of capturing the stories and images of animals in their moments of suffering. She emphasizes the need to keep an open heart and allow it to break over and over again, as this empathy drives her to help others. Despite facing dark and challenging situations, MacArthur remains hopeful about humanity and believes in the power of compassion. She encourages individuals to use their skills and talents to make a positive impact for animals, whether through photography, advocacy, or other means. MacArthur also introduces her latest project, a photography book called 'Hidden Animals in the Anthropocene,' which sheds light on the invisible animals in our lives and aims to raise awareness about their plight.
The Journey to Becoming an Animal Rights Photographer
Joanna MacArthur shares her personal journey from being a meat-eater to becoming a passionate animal rights activist and photographer. She recounts her experience at Farm Sanctuary, where she initially became vegan for a one-month internship and felt spiritually aligned and intellectually fulfilled. This pivotal moment led MacArthur to dedicate her life to documenting the suffering and experiences of animals. She discusses how her love of photography and concern for animals converged to form the foundation of her career as an animal rights photojournalist. MacArthur also reflects on the emotional and mental resilience necessary to navigate this challenging field.
The Complexity of Animal Abusers and the Meat Industry
Joanna MacArthur challenges the perception of animal abusers and emphasizes the hidden dynamics at play within the meat industry. She acknowledges that many workers in slaughterhouses and factory farms do not want to be in these roles and often seek alternative employment. MacArthur urges understanding and recognizes the influence of systemic forces and cultural norms that perpetuate animal cruelty. While she acknowledges the need to take action against these industries, she believes it is important to focus on changing demand and educating individuals about the consequences of their choices. MacArthur encourages kindness and compassion in engaging with both animals and people involved in these systems.
Strategic Activism and the Importance of Taking Action
Joanna MacArthur advocates for a strategic approach to animal activism, encouraging individuals to consider the most effective ways to create change. She emphasizes the importance of planning and research to maximize impact. MacArthur also emphasizes the need to go beyond witnessing suffering and take action. She encourages individuals to channel their empathy and motivation into tangible efforts to help animals, whether through support for NGOs, advocacy work, or using their skills to create meaningful change. MacArthur reflects on her own journey and highlights the power of conversations, visuals, and demands in shaping a more compassionate world.
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This week, Evanna and Tylor speak to award-winning photojournalist, author and founder of We Animals Media, Jo-Anne MacArthur. Jo-Anne's striking images of animals in captivity are known to all within the animal rights movement, and have moved thousands of people to deeply consider humanity’s relationship with animals. In this episode Jo-Anne shares her journey into veganism and animal rights, what she has learned in twenty years of photographing animals exploited by humans and whether or not she still remains optimistic about humanity.
Also in this episode…
Jo-Anne describes how one chance encounter with a macaque monkey, while backpacking in Ecuador, inspired her to share the stories of animals.
Jo-Anne tells us about her latest book Hidden: Animals in the Anthropocene.
Jo-Anne explains why she refers to the animals used by humans as ‘hidden animals’ and why she has devoted her life to telling their stories.
‘We have to create artistic, beautiful images, even of things that are absolutely terrible’. Jo-Anne stresses the importance of producing visually stimulating pictures of animals and likens it to war photography.
Tylor shares that, in his time at PETA, they often used Jo-Anne’s work in their campaigns.
Jo-Anne talks about her organisation We Animals Media; a group of writers, filmmakers and artists, whose focus is to amplify the stories of animals.
‘Anyone doing this front-line animal work needs to have a big focus on resilience’. Jo-Anne discusses the importance of safeguarding her mental health and shares that she has previously suffered from PTSD.
‘I don’t think I have become desensitized. I think it is important to keep my heart wide open and just let it break, over and over’. Jo-Anne explains how emotional engagement with her subjects and remaining highly sensitised to the plight of animals is key to her being able to produce such striking images.
Jo-Anne tells Evy and Tylor about the creation of her Animal Photojournalism Masterclass and very generously offers us 4 free passes to giveaway to you, our dearest ChickPeeps. Listen to the episode to find out how you can win one of the passes!
Links:
Make sure you check out Jo-Anne’s beautiful website
