Glenn Reading

Before you read

1: An advertisement that I am usually familiar with, that is an animal based product is fast food advertisements, whether it be McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's they all show similar advertisements. They show how great there burgers can be and how low priced they're, but they don't mention the information behind this product. If you saw the process of cattle getting slaughtered which is absent in all these commercials, you would think twice about eating fast food on the regular or even at all. I have seen a documentary about cattle being slaughtered by food and it was tough to watch and even though I still eat fast food, I have a better understanding on what goes one behind the scenes.

2: I don't have a strong connection between me and farm animals because I didn't grow up on or near a farm. The only time I would see farm animals is from a car driving on the highway. The only knowledge I have on farm culture is from t.v. shows or movies which probably don't portray the complete truth. I know for a fact that being in charge of a farm is tough work and makes you work long hours everyday of the week.

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

1: The main characteristic for "factory farm discourse" is term know as doublespeak. It is misleading and and we take for granted that "farm" animals are objects for our use of consumption. In reality this helps construct how USA Americans think about animals as objects and not something important. This doesn't allow us to see what goes on behind the scenes, so in essence we don't think twice about farm animals. I think this is unethical because Americans don't know the truth about farm animals, I'm kind of in the same boat but since I have read this article I have a better understanding about farm animals and not thinking of them as tacility.

Applying and Exploring

2: The company I picked was "Tyson" which I have herd about having many problems in the past. It is a factory farm and I can tell because the way they have the animals being treated. Having the animals in crowded areas where some die because its just to overcrowded, then they are just taking away to a slaughterhouse. The only way I knew this was because I have seen a documentary about factory farming and Tyson was right in the middle of it. On their website they probably don't say what happens behind the scenes of their process of making meat.

4: I think we think of animals as commodities and not really living things. And its sad because we have thought this for a long time and probably will continue to think this because of how our society runs. When I pass farm animals on the road, I don't think of them being slaughtered, it never really pops in my mind. I mostly think of how they're treated. I think they should be treated well up until there time will come.