Art has long been recognized as a powerful medium to influence emotions, thoughts, and behaviour. It transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, engaging audiences in a way that rational arguments or facts sometimes cannot. According to research[1], art has the capacity to inspire reflection, challenge beliefs, and motivate individuals to take action towards social and environmental causes.
One of the most effective ways in which art has contributed to the plant-based movement is through film. Documentaries like Cowspiracy[2] and Nowhere to Run[3] highlight the ethical and environmental implications of meat consumption also from a social point of view, including workers’ conditions on the slaughterhouses. Other documentaries, as Eating our Way to Extinction,[4] show the audience the impact of our food choices in climate change. By engaging viewers on an emotional level, documentaries[5] have the power to drive behavioural change and encouraging viewers to rethink their dietary choices.
Visual art has also been used to address the environmental crisis linked to meat consumption, particularly the impact on the Amazon rainforest. PETA’s[6] art exhibitions, for example, has been particularly effective in using shocking imagery to link the consumption of meat to issues like deforestation, habitat destruction, and the loss of biodiversity.
As the plant-based movement grows, veganism is increasingly influencing various forms of artistic expression, from theatre and literature to music and performance art. Artists who embrace veganism often incorporate ethical themes into their work, challenging the status quo and encouraging audiences to engage with the ethical implications of their choices. The influence of veganism is also changing the dynamics of artistic communities, fostering collaborations that centre on sustainability, ethical consumerism, and compassion for animals.
Ultimately, art has proven to be a powerful tool for the plant-based movement, helping to shift cultural norms and foster greater awareness of sustainability and animal rights. Through emotional engagement and impactful storytelling, artists and filmmakers are not only raising awareness but also inspiring lasting change.
Whether through films, exhibitions, or other creative outlets, as comics in the case of Com4Agriplant, art is playing an increasingly important role in pushing forward the conversation on plant-based diets and production, encouraging individuals to align their actions with their values for the betterment of society and the planet.
[1] Link to the research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652618307819
[2] Link to the documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsigH2Skfdg
[3] Link to the documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWyK389BJoI
[4] Link to the documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaPge01NQTQ
[5] Here you can find a longer list of reccomended documentaries that deal with meat consumption and production from the environmental, social and nutritional point of view: https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/top-vegan-documentaries/
[6] Link to the PETA campaign: https://www.peta.org/blog/art-shows-link-eating-meat-amazon-fires/