Julia+Waechter

__Robert Sebree: I’d Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur __ Robert Sebree is a well known photographer from Los Angeles, who is best known for taking photos of celebrities, musicians, and public figures. His portfolio includes everyone from Cameron Diaz to President Obama. After Sebree moved to Los Angeles from New York City to open his own photography studio, and develop his own style, he started his anti-animal cruelty work. He began taking photos for several of PETA’s campaigns against eating animals, animal testing, and wearing fur. Several of his most well-known photos were for the PETA, “Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur” campaign. Sebree disagrees with the atrocities that happen every day towards innocent animals, he uses his art, with the help of PETA to let people know that this must stop. His success in his own career, along with the rawness of his work, allows his photos for PETA to be well received by the public on such a controversial issue, which adds to the success of the campaign.

In 1991 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA launched its campaign to help raise awareness for the thousands of animals who are brutally killed each year for their fur, in order to be made into clothing that is distributed around the world. The campaign was named, “Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur”, and featured a variety of media to protest the inhumane treatment. The most common media used in the campaign is print advertisement, where famous models, actors, and personalities bare it all for the cause. For example, in 2008 Karina Smirnoff, famous dancer known for her television show “Dancing with the Stars”, was photographed by Sebree completely naked, telling people not to wear fur and to “be comfortable in their own skin”(“Would You Rather Go Naked?” 1). This type of ad is striking and grabs the attention of viewers, because we normally aren’t used to seeing nudity expressed so freely, especially not for a good cause. Because of this, and the celebrity endorsements, as well as the help of many professional photographers have made the campaign a huge success.

The most well-known photographs by Robert Sebree for the campaign are photos of Anna Nicole Smith and actor David Cross supporting the cause. Robert Sebree uses his artistic abilities in photography to work with PETA and help support the cause of animal violence that is going on in our world today. He uses his art to share with people the cruelty that is going on, which a lot of people aren’t aware of, by working with PETA Sebree is making great strides towards more people feeling compassionate about this serious issue. His photos publicize animal cruelty and force people to be aware of it, many people look the other way when they see animal cruelty, but by photographing well known public figures fighting for the cause he addresses the important social issue inhumane treatment to animals.

One photo by Robert Sebree features Anna Nicole Smith, a well known actress, model, and television personality. In the ad Smith is in an elegant pink gown, wearing diamonds, surrounded by handsome young men in suits. The ad says in large print, “Gentlemen prefer __fur-free__ blondes”- Anna Nicole Smith. This scene was taken from the 1953 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” starring Marilyn Monroe. By using this scene for his photo, Sebree is reaching a whole new audience, not only people who admire Anna Nicole Smith, but people who look up to Marilyn Monroe as well. In the film, Monroe uses her glamour and ethos to make the claim that “gentlemen prefer blondes”, in Sebree’s photo’s Smith corrects this statement declaring that “gentlemen prefer __fur-free__ blondes”. The point Sebree is trying to convey is validated by using the ethos of Smith, and Monroe. You don’t need to wear fur to be considered desirable or glamorous.

Underneath in smaller print the ad reads “Eight out of ten men are turned off by fur coats, according to Marie Claire. If you want to hook up, hang it up.” Sebree puts Smith in a desirable position; she looks fabulous, and glamorous, with the attention of many young men. To many women this fantasy is something that they would want, so by looking at the ad they will think not wearing fur will make them more desirable. Sebree puts Anna Nicole Smith in this position in order to reach a target audience, women who could possibly wear fur coats or other articles of clothing. By having a glamorous, rich woman in this position without fur, allows them to think they don’t need fur products to be glamorous.

Finally, PETA puts in statistics from another trusted source for women, Marie Claire, women will see that most men are turned off by fur, and think twice about wearing it. PETA, Anna Nicole Smith, and Monroe’s statements work with Sebree’s photos in order to better get his point across about the cruelty of fur, by using both of these sources he is only furthering his target audience and validating his point. Sebree disagrees with the killing of animals for fashion, his photo of Anna Nicole Smith portrays his opinion, by claiming that most men in the world, like him, dislike when women wear fur. By taking these photos his message is publicized, expressing his opinion to anyone who sees it.

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Robert Sebree also is an advertisement featuring David Cross, a comedian, and actor. In the photo Cross is completely nude on a runway, with hair all over his body. In large print it says “Wear Your Own Fur.” then in smaller print underneath it reads, “Let Animals Keep Theirs”. Being a comedian Sebree puts Cross in a more comical position, you would normally see him portrayed as sexy, which will catch the viewer’s attention. Sebree uses Cross to tell people they should be comfortable in their own skin, and not need to take the skin of other creatures just for fashion.

Sebree really catches the attention of his audience by using a technique that combines the models ethos, his photo, and the message. By using Cross’s comedic value he adds to the message if the photo, some people would not be as interested in the ad if David Cross had been portrayed in a way that people aren’t used to seeing him. People are used to seeing him being funny; Sebree puts him completely naked, so not only is the ad comical, it sends a good message. Cross’s photo tells people to be comfortable in their own “fur”, which is comical because in his photo he is naked, showing his body covered with hair. Cross is comfortable in his own body and “fur”, and allows people to see this. By seeing him like this, people can become comfortable in their own skin, and say no to wearing the fur of other creatures.

Sebree’s philosophy on animal cruelty is made clear through his photography; he does not believe that animals should be killed for their fur, especially just for fashion. He works with PETA in order to make more people know about this. Most of his influence came from his time traveling as a child, his father was in the air force, and Sebree had a chance to see the way animals were treated all over the world. After living in Japan, Sebree found out that photography was what he wanted to do with his life, despite the fact that he had already received an engineering degree from Texas A&M University (“Robert Sebree Photography” 2). His travel and experiences throughout his life influenced him into using his photography to speak against the cruelty of animals. Robert Sebree’s photographs use a celebrity or public figure in order to assist his photographs anti-fur message. Animals don’t have a voice for themselves, and Sebree is using his art with the help of his models to give them one, after seeing these ads which often have statements from PETA, many people will be affected by the shock factor of nudity that he often uses, and think twice about wearing fur and supporting the murder of animals.

2. "Anna Nicole Smith". PETA. 10/12/09< [] > 3. Sebree, Robert. "Robert Sebree Photography". Robert Sebree Photography. 10/12/09 . 4. "Would You Rather Go Naked?". PETA. 10/12/09 <4. http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/rather-go-naked.asp>.**
 * 1. "David Cross". PETA. 10/12/09  