Meat Production in Popular Culture

            I’ve been hearing more about meat production in the past week than I ever have in my entire lifetime. My sustainability science class, an extremely depressing course revolving around how my car, long showers, and eating habits are making the Earth deteriorate, has focused the past two classes on how food production, mainly meat, is incredible possessed and the treatment of the animals is beyond humane. After the class ended on Thursday, I walked into my room with a cloud over my head, searching for something to cheer me up. Naturally, I watched Aziz Ansari’s newest stand-up to grace Netflix. As I laughed along to his witty commentary on relationships, he transitioned to his next segment: meat production.

            After having the few classes dedicated to meat production and how evil it is, I had a good amount of background knowledge regarding Ansari’s bit. He commented on how various documentaries about food production have been released in order to instill fear and outrage in all consumers so that we could spark a change. I personally know a few people who have taken on a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle to fight the treatment of animals involved in meat production, but for the most part, most people I know have witnessed the horrid documentaries and continued with their hamburgers and chicken nuggets. Aziz Ansari touched on this topic during his comedy show. He said that he, like many other viewers, was outraged by the conditions of animals and was completely grossed out to hear about the genetically modified chemicals and drugs, but continued to eat meat, because, well, let’s face it, meat tastes really good.

            I would assume that the majority of people in the world dislike how animals are treated in food production and would fully support new, safer, more natural methods for meat. However, until a bill or a law comes around with enough force to reach the general public, I think most are going to put ketchup on their hot dogs, unhappy with the process it took to produce said hot dog, and enjoy it for dinner without much thought.