Culture Jamming
The following image, found on Google images illustrates an image of a rat and an image of a young girl on opposite ends. The two images are separated by a question: “Who would you rather see live?’ with a play on the word “rather” which is separated into two parts “rat” and “her.” The use of colour to separate the two words clearly allows the reader to identify the choice, either one or the other. The image promotes the testing of animals in order to produce products that won’t harm consumers and therefore the reader is more likely to choose the image of the young girl as opposed to the rat as there is a human connection which is what the image intends to do. The image aims to persuade readers to choose the safety of themselves and their loved ones by adopting the same view that animal testing helps to save human lives as products can be tested so that they are 100% safe for human use.
The following image has been manipulated in order to express that I disagree with the original image intended effect. The image has been manipulated by replacing the rat with a more appealing one and the young girl with an image of a laboratory technician who is involved in the cruel testing of animals. The same text was used to ask the same relevant question, which is intended to spark feelings of confusion as the reader now has to choose between an innocent animal and an individual who is testing on animals in cruel ways. The aim is to cause confusion so that readers cannot make a choice because a choice shouldn’t have to be made. Therefore the text below reads: “Be rational, no one deserves to die” the word “rat” in “rational” aims to highlight the significance of the rat which aims to represent all animals involved in animal testing. Readers are persuaded into believing that animal testing is unethical and should therefore be boycotted so that products can be produced using alternative methods to ensure safe usage.
Fig. 4. Research Saves (2015)
Fig. 5. Against Animal Cruelty (2015)