Posted on 06/17/2021 9:34:46 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
New shark center exhibit looks at ‘villain’ portrayal
Explores ‘Jaws’ effect
A new exhibit at the Cape Cod shark center explores how great white sharks are portrayed in the media and movies, as the apex predators have been painted as “villains” for decades.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy recently unveiled the “White Sharks in the Media and Public Perception” exhibit at the Chatham Shark Center.
“We want people to take a moment and reflect on how books and movies have portrayed sharks as villains in our oceans. The ‘Jaws’ effect,” said Marianne Long, education director at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
“We take the scary parts and put that context behind it, showing people that sharks feeding on seals is them being a predator in their natural habitats, catching and eating their prey,” Long added. “Those are their natural behaviors in their natural habitats.”
The exhibit pulls different shark headlines from newspapers and TV stations.
“Looking at different headlines can make you think one way or another,” Long said. “Wording can affect your understanding, and how you perceive shark activity.”
The exhibit provides people with further context beyond the headline.
The display that was rolled out two weeks ago has been a “great conversation starter,” Long said.
“Visitors will say they remember when this happened, and they remember seeing it on the news,” she said. “It opens up dialogue amongst families. We’ve really been having great conversations with our visitors about this.
“This exhibit has been on our brain for a while now, so we’re really excited to create it and get it out there for our visitors,” she added.
The Shark Center has a replica of Bruce from “Jaws.” The new exhibit ties in with the movie, which “invoked that fear,” Long said.
“Kids watch the movie now, and know the shark isn’t real,” she said. “They’re looking at it totally differently now.” The Shark Center opened five years ago and averaged about 17,000 visitors in a normal year before the pandemic. Last year, there were only about 3,000 visitors because the center could only offer private tours.
This season, the center is already seeing an increase in visitors.
“It’s very exciting after the last year,” Long said. “More people are arriving on the Cape now, and there’s definitely growing interest in visiting the center.”
As a small facility with limited parking, the Shark Center will have capacity limits in place for the summer season. They’re telling people to plan ahead and make a reservation to visit the center.
The center is taking reservations for private tours, general admission and educational programs. To learn more or to make a reservation, visit www.atlanticwhiteshark. org /sharkcenter.
‘We take the scary parts and put that context behind it, showing people that sharks feeding on seals is them being a predator in their natural habitats, catching and eating their prey.’
Sharks don’t differentiate; they’re omnivores and will eat you in a heartbeat.
The marine mammal act from the 70s restored seals and other mammals in such numbers as to attract the great Whites. A controlled harvest of seals for fur and to protect fishermen’s catches would do much to move the danger of shark attacks further offshore
At least since July 30th, 1945...
Jaws was years ahead of the curve as will be obvious once the name Great Oppressor Shark become accepted in place of Great White Shark.
Also, Sharks attacking minorities is hate chomping.
No thank you...
Sharks = Multiple kills
Humans = 0
Whatever happened to “Fish are Friends! Not Food!”?
This is my take on that:
The mistaken identity line may be true in most cases, but to me it can’t be true in all cases.
Unless there is something us humans posses that makes us immune from a sample bite from a hungry white shark.
Probably we taste better than a surfboard, paddle board or Kayak, but defnately not as tasty and nutricious as a seal- but hunger is still the best sauce.-Tom
Matawan Creek, 12 July 1916.
I get your reference, but I put most of that on Navy command...which blamed the ship’s commanding officer to cover up (NAVY SOP)
I draw the line at sharks, barracudas and Killer Whales etc.
“...but hunger is still the best sauce.”
So true.
I believe one bumped against my back when I was in chest deep water at Cocoa Beach. It think he was considering whether or not to take a bite of me.
This is the same mentality that prattles on about how rattlesnakes are “beautiful animals”. Then they helpfully explain how they keep rodents away.
I’d rather get surprised by a field mouse than a rattler.
That mammal act has reduced food for humans, and made us more likely to be attacked by a shark. And now we have a museum to teach you that when the killer great white bites you nearly in half to see if you are edible, you shouldn’t take it personally.
Your government at work again.
Oceanic whitetips, which most of those are, do indeed consume humans. Many argue that they are the most prolific killers of all. They are fund in the middle of nowhere in the ocean. If you wind up in a life raft or in a shipwreck, those are what is coming for you.
Sharks obey the Law of the Jungle:
Eat or be eaten....................
Sharks don’t eat lawyers.....Professional Courtesy.
I wouldn’t, either.................. probably taste like shiite.............
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.