This thesis explores the ever-shifting nature of human-animal relationships, through analysis of six documentaries: two BBC natural history documentaries, two animal rights activist films and two films by independent filmmaker and environmental activist, Patrick Rouxel. Building on analysis of three well-studied films and shedding light on three less-studied films, it suggests that representations of animals on-screen both coincide with, and challenge, established conceptions of nature. The process by which meaning is made is explored across the sites of production, image itself and audiencing, as well as along spatio-temporal lines. By examining films from three distinct genres, numerous meanings and their roots in wider social, cultural and economic relations are revealed. To traverse and expose this complexity, this thesis applies a new approach, built on insights from environmental history, the history of emotions, animal studies and the cognitive sciences. An understanding of positionality and subjectivity are incorporated, to emphasise that meaning-making is an interpretive process. This understanding shaped the methodology, employing conceptual metaphors to organise my interpretations: cognitive devices that shape our individual understanding of the world. It is argued that there is no one way to imagine nature. By unpacking meanings attached to animals on-screen, we can gain deeper insights into our perceptions, biases, and responsibilities towards the more-than-human world, essential in the face of unprecedented environmental change, caused by humans.
The meaning of nature and the nature of meaning: an examination of animals on-screen
Morris, L. C. (Author). 3 Oct 2023
Student thesis: Master's Thesis › Master of Science by Research (MScR)