Author Archives: dnelson@uoregon.edu

Anthropomorphism in Environmental Films

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Over the weekend I decided to watch the environmental documentary, African Cats. The film was released last year on Earth Day, what better timing for a new documentary film devoted to wildlife. African Cats captivates the audience as you follow a year in the life of a group of lions and cheetahs through Kenya. The films emphasis was on female cats that are the heroes. The audience is first introduced to Layla, an aging lioness struggling to keep up with her pride for the survival of her daughter, Mara. Then introduced to Sita, a single mother cheetah of three who lacks a pride for protection and food.

Samuel L. Jackson over dramatic narration emphasizes the anthropomorphism throughout the film. African Cats tumbles into anthropomorphic cuteness and applies human motivations to animal behavior. Throughout the film the audience can’t help but have sympathy through the suspense as the feline moms struggle for survival against hyenas, crocodiles, male lions, and cheetahs. The film anthropomorphizing of the cat with human emotions and motivations make the story emotional and are effectively done. The audience gets to know these wild cats enough to invest their sympathy through dangers and losses. The losses are balanced by triumphs and comic relief to teach children about life and death, without traumatizing them. Continue reading →

Competition or Struggle for Existence?

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Chapter 3 of the Origin of Species was extremely interesting, especially the part in which Darwin talks in depth about the Struggle for Existence. He stated, “…We do not always bear in mind, that though food may now be superabundant, it is not so at all seasons of each recurring year.” I found that to be very thought provoking because I truly figured out how this lends itself to Natural Selection and variation among species. Because there is always a different atmosphere among organisms each year, whether it is because of overpopulation or just a lack of resources and food, the need to adapt is also different each year. As Darwin was saying, when more individuals are produced than can possibly survive, there is going to be greater competition and, therefore a “struggle for existence.” Only the most fit, the ones most able to adapt, of animals will then survive, and they will pass their genes to their offspring, in the hopes that one day there will be a superior and near perfect variation of that species in existence. Of course, the animals don’t actually think this way, but it is part of their genetic goal to survive to reproduce.

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Nature and Man’s Connection

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To Emerson, the natural world is better than his own, offering mankind all the life and inspiration that is absent from society. Emerson paints a vivid picture of nature and man’s important connection to it. Emerson convinces his readers that the relationship between man and nature is sacred, comforting, and vital for survival.

Emerson asks his readers “to what end is Nature?” (27). He goes about answering this question with several arguments.  Emerson makes certain to his readers that “we have no questions to ask which are unanswerable,” this is so because the ”order of things” in nature will answer all questions (27). He then goes on to explain that, “the universe is composed of Nature and the Soul” (28). Assuming that the Soul resides in each man, Emerson makes the conclusion that “therefore, all that is separate from us…must be ranked under this name, NATURE”(28). Emerson also notes that nature is anything “unchanged by man” such as the sky, the landscape, the air, etc.  By slowly drawing out the definition of what nature is Emerson makes a mysterious entity become tangible to his readers.

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Greenwashed Car Commercials

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We’ve all seen it a dozen times on television, a commercial shows a shiny, new car driving up windy, mountainside roads, and a narrator lists all the environmentally friendly aspects of the vehicle. The automobile company will argue that it’s the greenest car out there, and they have the best ideas for a sustainable auto industry. You’re quickly distracted by all the promises of high gas mileage, road handling, comfortable interiors and safety features. Before you know it, the car has reached the top of the mountain, looking out onto a bright, sunny field or even a clear, blue ocean and sometimes even the surrounding wildlife like it! This specific car is one with Earth, in complete harmony with its surrounding environment.

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