Animal Voices - Arts & Music

Vegan Mind Meld: An Interview with Comedian Myq Kaplan

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:00 -0500

Is there something about veganism that is inherently funny? What exactly is funny about being a vegan comedian performing at a steakhouse? Is legalizing human-animal marriage really the next step after legalizing gay marriage? In this conversation with vegan comedian Myq Kaplan, we discuss the finer points of being a funny and conscientious person, comedy as outreach, and New Year’s Resolutions. With comedy that’s as pointed as a rusty nail (and just as infectious!) Myq Kaplan provides us with 45min of laughter in the form of his voice. You’ll laugh until you cry, I promise.

From his website: A Jewy-ish vegan atheist who spells the name “Mike” weird, Myq enjoys words, social justice, Netflix, and comic books. Also non-comic books, ping-pong, and being great with women. And grammar and run-on sentence fragments. And of course, being hilarious to his demographic, which is anyone who might know the word “demographic”.

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An Ocean of Energy: An Interview with Bob Timmons

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Few activists can boast the energy and determination of Bob Timmons. Bursting onto the Toronto animal advocacy community just two short years ago, Bob has proven himself since to be a dedicated and tireless member of groups such as ARKII. He has written letters, facilitated networking among activists, and logged countless hours of in-the-streets activism. In addition to his on-the-ground work, Bob also continues to create stunning “awareness paintings” that call attention to the ever-tragic stories of marine animals around the world as he pushes his visual arts practice without concern for profit or fame.

Join us for this conversation where we learn about how Bob became passionate about animal issues, specifically marine conservation, and be a part of an exclusive announcement that Bob is now on the advisory board of Oceanic Defense! This is a portrait of an activist that you don’t want to miss.

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A Hen’s Perspective: Inside the Virtual Battery Cage

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0400

Mark Middleton, creator of Animal Visuals: Visual Resources for Animal Advocates, wants us to shift our perspective... literally. In his Virtual Battery Cage infographic, Middleton provides an immersive first person environment that attempts to give the user a visual and audio experience of a typical "battery hen," an egg-laying chicken who spends most of her life cramped within a cage. In this interview, we explore the motivation behind Middleton's striking infographic, weigh into the politics of representation, and examine this innovative contribution to animal activism.

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Music for the Banger’s Heart: Propagandhi Gives us a Good Thrashing

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Photo from Smallman Records

Supporting Caste, the newest offering from Winnipeg's Propagandhi has the kind of heart that makes you want to laugh, sob, raise your fist, and dissolve into a puddle of punk rock gratitude. Sprinkling their lyrics with characteristic irony and sarcastic political critiques, the searing honesty and blunt vulnerability of the band nonetheless cuts through as clearly as their fast and intricate riffs. In this interview, Chris Hannah (guitarist and a lead vocalist for the band) discusses the inspiration for the album, including some of its most controversial songs, such as one track that (tongue firmly planted in cheek) turns a "humane meat" advocate into a decadent dinner. Deeply self-reflexive but never narcissistic, Propagandhi makes music that is best listened to on repeat.

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Row over UN's call for increased fish farming

If you would like more information on the study mentioned in this program, "The Social World of Vegetarians and Vegans", or would like to participate, please click here.

A Friendly Face-to-Face: An Upcoming Documentary Series Gets Personal

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Photo from ananimalfriendlylife.com

Although the term "vegan" is gaining cultural currency, who vegans are and what motivates them are still often subjects of widespread misconception and stereotyping. On the flip side, some vegans can stumble when explaining their ethical positions and dietary choices to a skeptical, or perhaps even receptive, audience. While graphic images and animal-related literature remain common outreach tools, filmmaker and popular blogger Eric Prescott takes a fresh and personal approach in his efforts to demystify veganism. Enter "I'm Vegan," a "series of short documentary profiles that aim for long-term impact as an online series normalizing veganism ... intended to serve as a form of ongoing advocacy." Tune in to learn more about the project and how you can get involved.

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Wildlife Photography: The Legacy of Camera Hunting, Masculinity, and Colonialism

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Theodore Roosevelt with a dead elephant. Photo by Edward Van Altena, 1909.

In this conversation, Dr. Mathew Brower, Curator at the University of Toronto and Lecturer in Museum Studies, gives us a fascinating historical account of wildlife photography in the United States and Britain. With an emphasis on "camera hunting" and an eye toward masculinity, Brower notes the shifts in hunting and photography practices, and the larger accompanying political and cultural contexts that informed their development. From Roosevelt and the end of "manliness" to industrialization and the physical decline of "game" populations, the story of wildlife photography twists and turns through a number of interesting characters who were set on proving their prowess and skill, while animals at times disrupted the photographers' pursuits. Entangled with colonial history, tune in to learn how wildlife photography signifies much more than pretty pictures.

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The Vegan Hip Hop Movement

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Photo by Brigitte Cronje

Listen in as we connect with Kevin Tillman, founder of the Vegan Hip Hop Movement website and promoter of all things people, animal, and earth-friendly. In this interview, Kevin takes us back to the roots of hip hop, and offers us insight into its message of empowerment that arose within the South Bronx and continues to inspire communities internationally. Indivisible from that resistant history, the world of vegan hip hop raises its voice for humans and nonhumans alike.

Engaging issues related to consumerism, colonialism, racism, animal exploitation, among others, the vegan hip hop movement cultivates a holistic anti-oppression approach that pushes veganism and animal rights to go further, while also urging hip hop to broaden its scope. Tune in to hear some fine tracks from vegan hip hop artists, and tap into a movement that shakes it all up.

Thanks to Labtekwon, Farm Fresh, and Hush Money for giving us the green light to include their music in the podcast. We're still hoping to hear back from Loer Velocity, Ruffmic and Freedom Writer. Thanks also to Kevin for selecting the music, and helping us to meet our Canadian content requirements!

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Thousand Mile Song: An Interview with David Rothenberg

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Source: Thousand Mile Song website

First, animal rights campaigner Paula Stibbe provides an update about the ten imprisoned Austrian animal activists who were arrested on May 21st. We learn of their recently-extended remand, and the condition of the advocates, including Dr. Martin Balluch who was on a hunger strike. Stibbe also describes the many successes of the animal rights movement in Austria, and what she believes are the political motivations behind the arrests.

To offer your support, please visit the VGT (Verein Gegen Tierfabriken/Association Against Animal Factories) website.

Then we reconnect with clarinetist, composer, and philosopher, David Rothenberg, author of such books as Always the Mountains, Why Birds Sing: A Journey into the Mystery of Bird Song and the recently-published Thousand Mile Song: Whale Music in a Sea of Sound. With his characteristic exuberance and thoughtfulness, Rothenberg introduces us to the musical world of whales. Throughout, he urges his readers to revisit whale-song anew, with both an appreciation of current ethological research and a willingness to admit how little we really know.

Tune in to hear about the sublime lives of whales, anecdotes from Rothenberg's adventures, and his own attempts to blur the watery boundary between our species and theirs.

New Media and Animal Life: An Interview with Carol Gigliotti

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

photo from Gigliotti's forthcoming edited book, Leonardo's Choice: genetic technologies and animals

As technologies change so does art in its response and engagement. New ethical questions emerge, while old debates are reignited, both about the meaning of art and the world beyond. In this conversation, we speak with artist and professor Dr. Carol Gigliotti (Emily Carr University of Art and Design) about contemporary artists' use of animal life in interactive technologies, also known as New Media. Gigliotti guides us through some case studies, including that of Alba, artist Eduardo Kac's "GFP (green fluorescent protein) Bunny," while she elaborates on her own ethical and aesthetic interpretation of such projects. Informed by years of study and relationships with other artists, Gigliotti deftly challenges New Media's cutting edge as it slices across art and science, social taboos, and animals' lives.

Gigliotti's upcoming book is entitled Wildness and Technology. She is the Co-Chair of the Community Engagement Research Cluster for Vancouver's Center for Interactive Research in Sustainability, and is the Associate Editor of the Journal for Critical Animal Studies. For more information, please see her extensive website www.carolgigliotti.net.

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Seeing Through the Fence: An Interview with Eleni Vlachos

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:00:00 -0500

Photo by Jeremy M. Lange. Source: porchlifeproductions.com

Meat-eating is a ubiquitous practice through many parts of the world. While vegetarians are frequently asked why they eschew animal products, it is less likely to hear omnivores reflect on their dietary choices. Eleni Vlachos, with camera in hand and judgement reserved, takes to the streets in the United States to talk with activists and non-activists alike about animals, culture, food, and the many factors that shape daily consumption. We also travel with Vlachos to Greece, as she meets with her father and other family to explore these questions in person. What emerges is a set of intimate conversations that are at times funny and bittersweet. Those who have found themselves misunderstood by their families because of their veganism will likely see their experiences reflected in these moving and sympathetic family portraits.

First-time documentarian Eleni Vlachos offers a film whose ethical heart rests at the seat of conversation. Join us as she shares the challenges and rewards of making Seeing Through the Fence.

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An Elephant’s Story: Gowdy Reflects on The White Bone

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:00:00 -0500

"The White Bone is an attempt, however presumptuous, to make a huge imaginative leap — to imagine what it would be like to be that big and gentle, to be that imperiled, and to have that prodigious a memory. It may well be true, by the way, that elephants never forget." - Barbara Gowdy

Gowdy argues that, if animals have emotions and consciousness (and ethological research confirms this), then animals likely have stories. The White Bone tells the story of Mud, a young orphaned elephant, and her adoptive family as they roam sub-Saharan Africa in search of the "Safe Place," free from human violence. Mistakenly grouped with works such as Animal Farm, Gowdy's story sharply departs from the fabulist tradition, which uses animal behaviour to highlight human folly. Instead, in this unusual piece of adult fiction, Gowdy draws upon her extensive research on elephants to construct a narrative from their perspectives. Tender, yet unsentimental, the result is a text that both compels and shocks.

In our conversation, prized Canadian author Barbara Gowdy shares the motivations and techniques involved in writing such a startling book. Tune in to hear one of Canada's most prized writers discuss literature, ethics, and the animals who inspire her.

Gowdy is an award-winning author whose previous books include The Romantic, The White Bone, Mister Sandman, We So Seldom Look on Love, Falling Angels, and most recently, Helpless. In 1996, she won the Marian Engel Award. She has been a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and a repeat finalist for the Giller Prize, the Governor General's Award, the Trillium Award and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction prize.

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Skin Trade: An Interview with Shannon Keith

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:00:00 -0500

This week we catch up with Shannon Keith, filmmaker and activist, to talk about her upcoming film Skin Trade: Fur, Fashion and Truth. After her highly successful and critically acclaimed documentary Behind the Mask, Keith is back planning and shooting her next film. This time, she sets her sights on farmers and clothing designers, to challenge the fur industry and the fashion world at its core.

Though the production is still in its early stages, we learn what viewers can expect from Skin Trade, which is sure to be a provocative and intense piece.

More Than a Thousand Words: The Photography of Jo-Anne McArthur

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Celebrated photographer Jo-Anne McArthur joins us in studio to talk about her work in Canada, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and India. We hear about how she uses her camera to tell the stories of animals and people in the most dire to most joyful situations. In our conversation, McArthur reflects on her development as a photographer, including how she gains the stillness and trust required to do her work well. Recent subjects include teenage mothers and the world of contemporary midwifery. She has worked closely with organizations such as the Animal India Trust, Jane Goodall Institute, Farm Sanctuary, among others. She has photographed for publications such as The Globe & Mail, Canadian Geographic Magazine, NOW Magazine, to mention only a few.

In contrast with some of the more graphic animal rights photography, McArthur's animal shots invite the viewer to go deeper into the image, to sift through its many layers. From the documentation of undercover animal cruelty investigators, dog and cat rescue in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, to the rabbit shelter at Farm Sanctuary, McArthur's animal advocacy offers subtle portraits of contexts where human and animal lives are deeply intertwined. Honoured in magazines such as Canadian Living, McArthur's formal training at Magnum Photos in London (2000) and her continued openness to experience and critique has created a portfolio that is both intimate and captivating.

McArthur invites listeners to give her feedback about her book-in-progress, to be endorsed by Jane Goodall, We Animals: Animals in the Human Environment. Please contact her at jo@joannemcarthur.com for a PDF version of the book. She would love to hear from you.

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MoD considers ditching 'agonising' live goat experiments

Sharkwater: An Interview With Rob Stewart

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:00:00 -0400

We speak with Rob Stewart, director of the award-winning film Sharkwater, about his compelling case for the global protection of sharks. Busting the myth that sharks are unstoppable killing machines, Stewart portrays them as complex and evolved beings, beings whose survival is threatened by the lucrative shark-fin industry. "A dangerous shark makes money and sells papers," he says, "If they tell you a shark is beautiful and perfect and wonderful and won't attack you, that's only going to make the news once."

Stewart's love of sharks has taken him as far as the Galapagos Islands, Guatemala and Costa Rica, where he has worked alongside Sea Shepherd to expose and stop shark poachers, at times under harrowing conditions. He joins us to talk about his film, his travels, and why sharks matter.

Sharkwater is Rob Stewart's first film, and was Winner of Canada's Top Ten at the Toronto International Film Festival, People's Choice Winner at the Atlantic International Film Festival, Winner for International Documentary at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival. In addition to visiting schools across Canada to promote his message, Stewart has also appeared on The Today Show and Larry King Live.

Your Mommy Kills Animals!: Curt Johnson Walks the Line

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:26:15 -0400

You might not know it by looking at mainstream media, but the animal movements are full of a diversity of perspectives and strategies. Curt Johnson, Academy-award winner, and director of Your Mommy Kills Animals speaks with us live about his journey into the animal movements and the making of the film. Spurred by a curiosity about the issues and the organizations that call this movement home, Johnson set out to learn more about what makes animal activists tick... and what ticks them off.

Your Mommy Kills Animals concentrates on a melange of groups and group leaders, including folks such as Kevin Kjonaas from SHAC, and their critics, perhaps most notably David Martosko from the Center for Consumer Freedom. The documentary, while described as "a film, not an opinion", in part provides an unequivocal critique of PETA and HSUS (neither group agreed to be interviewed), and ponders the fact that animal rights activists are currently considered the number one domestic terrorist threat in the United States. Your Mommy Kills Animals addresses themes of animal abuse, radicalism, hypocrisy, welfare, abolitionism, and violence, as Johnson talks with fur farmers, celebrities, activists and dissidents to initiate a conversation about the state of the movement today, while shining a few floodlights on the simmering, behind-the-scenes debates.