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.’
Your metaphor blender is acting up again....
;>)
Well, that is certainly true. It was interesting that the Japanese sub commander was called in to testify that Captain McVay had not been zig-zagging, but...he also testified that it wouldn’t have made any difference if he had.
With no escorts and a moonlit night...I am sure he was able to get pretty close. I have no doubt they were wary, wondering what this cruiser was doing all by itself out there with no escorts.
My dad was career Navy, and he understood the whole “Good of the Naval Service” thing and accepted it, but my mother hated it. When she talked about “for the Good of the Naval Service” her dark eyes flashed with anger and her voice dripped with scorn.
She had seen good men get torpedoed for “The Good of The Naval Service” and viewed it dimly.
My dad was a personal acquaintance of CDR Lloyd Bucher of the USS Pueblo, and my mom had very strong feelings about his treatment after he was released, but my dad never said anything about it.
“and Killer Whales”
‘Killer’ whales are generally only a danger to humans when they are in captivity. Out in the wild they just about never attack humans and have actually defended humans from other predators from time to time.
“Sharks don’t differentiate”
Parts is parts.
We are protein too.
They’re not villains. They’re just mindless eating machines that will just as soon wolf down a human as a big fish.
Are you maybe thinking of dolphins?
I’ve heard that about oceanic white tips too. The middle of the ocean is pretty barren of resources, so they can’t take the chance of passing up any potential meal.
Freegards
Down with White Shark Supremacy!
White sharks don’t come to YOUR neighborhood
and eat you when you go down to the mail box.
Dress up like a seal and swim in the ocean...?
Well, yes, and no, as so-called “killer whales” are actually in the dolphin family. But no, I am not confusing them with some other form of dolphins.
I had a similar experience, when I lived in Miami. My girlfriend and I were skinnydipping off Key Biscayne at night, when one LARGE shark went right between us. I haven’t been back in the ocean, since.
” My girlfriend and I were skinnydipping off Key Biscayne at night, when one LARGE shark went right between us. I haven’t been back in the ocean, since.”
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Perhaps you should try it in the daytime. Pick a nice beach as shown in the clip below, with no seals around, and swim out just beyond the breakers for a relaxing ocean visit to build up your confidence. -tom
https://twitter.com/i/status/1405163257002827782
Never go swimming with bow legged women. Oh’ and hang on to you dingalingling. They look for food. You’re on the menu.
The U.S.S. Indianapolis. Poor guys.
Humans are pretty low on the food chain - in the mountains w/ bears, mtn lions, wolves, wild boars - and in the ocean - sharks, barracuda, other stuff - so I avoid those places, unless I carry my AR-50 Beowulf and Kimber 1911 .45 ACP in the wilderness. Haven’t been in the ocean since the early 70s, due to a close encounter with a large shark.
I’m a landlubber now, at 72.
That’s what I read also. And they patrol along lazily. In the middle of the pacific, there’s no rush. And every scrap of protein in the water is theirs.
Jacques Cousteau also thought they were the most dangerous of all sharks.
You are fortunate not to have interests that take you those places the animals live. Me I don’t worry so much about animals unless they have only two legs. That’s what my Walther is for. If I still lived around or in the water I’d figure I could be on the menu. Everything is on the food chain at some point. In the Rockies I carry heavier than Mr Walther made but “a hole is a hole, as they say”.
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