'If this was a human…': Pets, vets and medicine. Issue 2 (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mills, Brett
• Other Names: Hallam Julia guest-editor.; Hamad Hannah guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Critical studies in television. Volume 11:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 244
• Page End: 256
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Television -- animals -- vets -- biopower -- medicine -- animal studies; Television -- Periodicals; Television criticism -- Periodicals; 384.5505
• DOI: 10.1177/1749602016642935
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-6020

Abstract

The television documentary series The Supervet (Channel 4, 2014–) follows the eponymous Noel Fitzpatrick as he carries out experimental surgery on animals seemingly beyond help. This article examines the series in order to explore how this programme depicts animal medicine. Drawing on animal studies approaches, it argues that the programme foregrounds the humans rather than the animals, and, in its focus on surgery, legitimizes humans' dominance of other species. In doing so, it argues that television's representational strategies struggle with offering depictions that are not human centred.