From artisanal death to industrial death. Discursive strategies for the naturalization of slaughter

Abstract

The debate around the relationship with animals in contemporary society affects the most diverse geographical areas and social contexts. however, there are regions which seem to be shielded by this discussion, even though "speciesism" is at the center of its socioeconomic dynamics. this is the case of regions developed around firms focused on the meat industry, in which the slaughter of animals is the structuring activity of the territory and of economic and political relations. based on the case of concórdia- sc, brazil, headquarters of the company sadia (brasil foods), we analyzed the sociopolitical relations which support, naturalize and reproduce the merely instrumental use of non-human sentient beings in the form of a pattern of territorial development. particularly, we seek to examine how the experience of settlers in dealing with animals for subsistence is appropriated by the industry's discourse, obliterating the possible moral objections to the activity. the ideological blocking of this issue might mean an intensification of the exploitation among the humans.