The question of our responsibilities towards other animals has never been more urgent and complicated. Over the course of the last fifty years, the animal industrial complex has increasingly become the subject of activist response. At the same time, increased legislative protections and neoliberal deregulation have strengthened agribusiness interests.
On Friday 16th November, Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan will visit the University of Kent to deliver a guest talk entitled ‘What has an Animal Activist done for you lately?’ that considers the work of animal activists through the lens of social service. Analysing how animal advocates gather information, O’Sullivan will look at the degree to which trespassing, whether on land, at sea or through the illegal use of drones, can be considered an act of civil disobedience that might produce meaningful social and political change.
The talk will be followed by an interdisciplinary roundtable discussion responding to her paper and the question of animal activism more broadly, with participants from English, History and Psychology.
Animal Activism: An Animal Studies Forum will take place at 4pm on Friday 16th November 2018 in Darwin Lecture Theatre 2.
The event is free and open to all and will be followed by a wine reception in the School of English common room. It is being run in conjunction with “EN709 Animals, Humans, Writing” and is a Kent Animal Humanities Network event.