Meat is Murder
Artist: The Smiths
Year: 1985
Description: The cover of Meat Is Murder features a grainy, war-torn photograph of a young American soldier, his helmet emblazoned with the words “MEAT IS MURDER.” Adapted from a Vietnam War documentary still, the image transforms a symbol of conflict into a moral statement — equating violence on the battlefield with the violence of meat consumption. The muted green tint and raw, photocopied texture give it the look of a protest poster, aligning perfectly with The Smiths’ blend of melancholy and political defiance. Stark and confrontational, the artwork captures the band’s ethos: empathy wrapped in irony, beauty entwined with outrage.