Exploring the Complex Ties Between Humans and Monkeys in New Zine
Unraveling Historical Ties Between Humans and Monkeys
Exploring the intricate and historical relationships between humans and monkeys, Carrie McLaren presents a new zine titled “Ape Sh*t”. Known for her work on zines such as “Stay Free!” which tackled issues around media and consumer culture, McLaren’s latest endeavor highlights the complicated, and at times, bizarre, history shared by humans and our primate cousins.
Zine as a Medium for Niche Topics
Historically, zines have served as an underground medium for people to delve into niche and often unconventional topics. McLaren, a seasoned zine creator, uses this format to document human interactions with monkeys, drawing parallels between this dynamic and the power struggles embedded in everyday society.
Inside Ape Sh*t’s Premier Issue
The debut issue of “Ape Sh*t” delves into the narrative of the Boston nonprofit organizations like Helping Hands, which sought to align capuchin monkeys as aides for quadriplegics. Media around these efforts often portrayed them in a positive light. However, McLaren reveals the more complicated reality for both the monkeys and the humans involved.
The monikers of ‘helper monkeys’ were somewhat misleading, as these intelligent creatures often found themselves in restrictive living conditions, subjected to inhumane training methods such as having teeth removed to curb biting, or being disciplined with shocks. These stories, coupled with McLaren’s investigations and critiques of such programs, form the crux of the zine’s content.
Media Influence and Ethical Dilemmas
“Ape Sh*t” seeks to critique how media narratives can oversimplify and glamorize complex human-animal relationships. McLaren’s intention is to unearth the overlooked aspects, particularly the ethical concerns involving the treatment of monkeys within these projects. Interviews with former trainers, such as Alison Pascoe, provide firsthand accounts of the issues masked by the media’s rose-tinted coverage.
By challenging the mainstream portrayal of monkeys as service animals, McLaren’s work in “Ape Sh*t” sparks necessary conversations around the ethics of animal treatment and the narratives spun by media outlets.
Photo by Chris Grant on Unsplash
