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Add to FavoritesSex sells! That is a fact. Therefore what better angle to take to attract attention to a good cause?
Even people who do not have an opinion on the use of fur, or even those who agree with wearing fur will at least notice the campaign ads, before they even know what they are about
Obviously, the first thing you notice are the naked people! Then, upon wondering why there are naked people, one realizes the message they are putting across. I believe that is an effective campaign. Advertisement is all about getting the public to notice and then encouraging their curiosity in order to send a message.
And who are the most noticed people on the planet? Celebrities of course! So, who better to enlist in a campaign that you are trying to get noticed.
And so followed PETA's naked protests. Originally inspired by a Florida lady called Holly Jensen, who fashioned a flesh colored leotard and stood solo on the roadside with a magic-marker sign reading "I'd rather go naked than wear a fur coat", PETA went one step further and stripped all clothes! Celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Michelle Manhart, Alicia Sliverstone, and numerous Playboy models among many others, have bared their flesh for the cause and aided PETA in getting the attention they aimed for.
Brandishing slogans, such as "I'd rather bare skin than wear skin" or "Skin looks better on its original owner" are memorable and attention grabbing phrases that make people stop and think if only for a moment, and it is these moments that can make a difference. Once PETA have gained the attention of the public with a more light-hearted, daring approach, they have the opportunity to expose the truths behind the fur industry and other acts of senseless cruelty, with the use of investigative videos and shocking footage of the ways these animals are treated and killed.
So why these methods? They are physically illustrating their message, that if given the choice between fur or nothing - being naked is the preferable alternative to wearing dead animals!
PETA have not only used the naked approach to campaign against fur, but to also promote their views on vegetarianism. Naked models have drawn on their bodies and labeled each part as to which cut of meat it would be - ie. Chuck, rib, sirloin, T-bone etc. This is certainly a different way of making people think about animals and the fact that they are treated as insignificant pieces of meat as opposed to living, breathing animals.
A testament to the effectiveness of the naked protests is apparent in the fact the fur sales have decreased since the emergence of these protests. That in itself answers the question!
Learn more about this author, Kate Manning.
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No
Do PETA's naked protest tactics work?
This is a ridiculous way to protest and can only harm that which they supposedly strive to protect. PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Now just imagine seeing a beautiful naked male or female. Does it remind you to make a donation to a worthy cause or cause your mind to think thoughts that are not on the topic of Ethical Treatment of Animals? Better still imagine a body that looks like it should be on a treadmill 24/7. Would you even think to donate to that cause or would you even realize what it was that they were trying to make you aware of?
Those people whom they are trying to reach with their protest are generally so disgusted and distracted by the visual, that the message is not getting across. Of course there are those who already disagree with PETA's methods, who find the actions totally comical and are willing to gawk and laugh at the apparent desperation of the organization.
The only thing that naked protesting does is bring awareness to the instability of the organization and its members. It certainly does not bring awareness to the animals that they have sworn to protect.
It can be said that any protest that conjures discussion and thought about the cause, most certainly works, because that is one of the reasons people protest in the first place. However, when all is said and done, the very audience of the naked protest is going to go home and discuss the naked individuals and not what the protest was all about. It also can be said that the naked protest brings about awareness of the protest in topics such as this debate. But this debate is not on the awareness of the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It brings awareness to the protest, but not the topic chosen by the protesters and therefore renders the protest useless. It doesn't matter whether PETA's audience is comfortable with the naked protest, outraged, or agreeing that nakedness gets the point across. It will be the nakedness that will stimulate future conversations and not the point of the protest.
Nakedness has nothing to do with protesting animal rights and should not be part of the process. If PETA or any other animal rights want to be noticed for the cause they are protesting, then bring the facts to the people and let the audience decide if the protest is worthy of donating their well earned time and/or money. If you can't get your audience to remember what the protest was for, then what is the sense in protesting. In PETA's case, it seems that its claim to fame is the exhibit the human body, or do some other equally ludicrous action.
Learn more about this author, Gimme a Dream.
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