Relating women and animals to one another, Rachel Graves's creative self-portrait series 'Menagerie' is shocking and naively sweet and sad at the same time.
The UK-based photographer uses herself as a model to make the link between women and animals when it comes to "domination and exploitation" in her stirring and creative self-portrait series. The photographer turns herself into a fox, bitch, bird and lamb. Grave chose these specific domestic and game animals, because when women are objectified, they are associated with these animals.
These portraits created by Grave are meant to show the objectification of women and animals that she says ranges from "the mass media fantasy images of impossibly proportioned women and happy cartoon cows and chickens, to the animal names and insults directed toward women."
Candid Humanimal Self-Portraits
This Creative Self-Portrait Series is Powerful and Direct
Trend Themes
1. Objectification Awareness - The trend of raising awareness on the objectification of women and animals provides opportunities for companies to create social campaigns promoting equality and respect.
2. Creative Self-expression - The trend of expressing oneself through creative outlets like photography offers opportunities for companies to develop platforms and tools that enable individuals to showcase their artistic works.
3. Human-animal Connection - The trend of exploring the connection between humans and animals provides opportunities for companies to create innovative products and services that bridge the gap between the two, addressing issues of conservation, ethics and sustainability.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising and Marketing - The advertising and marketing industry can tap into the trend of objectification awareness by creating social campaigns targeting female and animal empowerment.
2. Creative Arts - The creative arts industry can leverage the trend of creative self-expression by developing platforms and tools that facilitate the expression of artistic works.
3. Animal Conservation and Welfare - The animal conservation and welfare industry can explore the trend of the human-animal connection by developing innovative products and services that address conservation, ethical and sustainability issues.