The Truth Beyond The Myths About Sharks
If you ask someone who had watched JAWS what was the impact the movie had on them, they will probably say it was not positive at all. Most people have misconceptions about sharks. The movie made people face sharks as horrible creatures and after the movie came out these people began to fear swimming in the sea. The media likes to sensationalize things. The idea of a big fish, full of acute teeth that are mostly like razors swimming in our beaches caused horror among people. This fear increased among many people that suffer from phobia of sharks. "This phobia is most known as Selachophobia - which is the scientific name for an abnormal and persistent fear of sharks - is a serious problem for many would-be swimmers." (Reader's Digest 25) Sufferers are usually completely unable to swim in the sea, even when reassured that shark nets other safety procedures are in force. "After the movie "Jaws" was released in 1975, the occurrence of Selachophobia had increased a lot. Some scientists argued that "Jaws" has been indirectly responsible for the wide-scale and irresponsible slaughter of sharks all over the world since 1975. It has contributed to the decline of great white populations as a result." (Compagno 27).
Until the beginning of the XX century, sharks were barely known among the public; swimming in the ocean was considered a quaint habit in the occident countries and just a few people had really seen a shark alive. "Myths related to sharks have played an important part among many cultures all around the world for many centuries. A jar founded in Italy, dated around 725 b.C., illustrates a man being swallowed by a big fish, and this was the first known occidental representation of a shark attack." (Macquitty 36). From that time on, there had been many artistic and literary descriptions of shark's attacks. Some brain trusts believe that the biblical story of Jonas was based originally on a great white shark, instead of a whale.
Is the movie "Jaws" responsible for all that scare? There is no denying that all general fear of sharks is a recent phenomenon and that it had increased a lot with the launching of Spielberg's movie, in 1975. "The clashing descriptions of the attacks and John William's memorable conquest initiated a lot of hysteria among people and the destruction of sharks all around the world." (Llewellyn 57). Sharks have also gotten a hard time for news reports. Whenever there is a shark attack, it is front page news, and it is always on the news channel. The worst part is that sharks are always shown as villains by the media. But people should be able to see that many sharks are fished and killed by humans. So who is actually the predator and who is the prey? "While the number of shark attacks is relatively rare, around 70 and 90 attacks per year in which most of the victims survive, the number of sharks being exterminated goes from 100 to 150 million per year." (Llewellyn 58).
The stories became alive for millions of people all around the world after the movie "Jaws" came out reminding people that there are many terrifying creatures hidden in our oceans. Different from the classical horror movies, in which the big impact is based on our imagination, "Jaws" was based in reality. Although the fish that terrified Amity's Island had never existed, the 5, 18 m and 2,035kg great white shark which had inspired Peter's Bencheley original story certainly existed. A row of fatal attacks in New Jersey in 1916 definitely happened; and by that time there was no massive covering media as we have nowadays. "Like the USS Indianopolis shipwreck in 1945 - a memorable event described by the character Quint on the first "Jaws" movie - , that resulted in hundreds of American sailor's deaths related to sharks attacks." (Macquitty 33).
It would not be a surprise that some people who had watched the movie had negative reactions related to the movie "Jaws". Although mane evidences prove that shark attacks are very rare - a person is more likely to be hit by a lightning than killed by a shark -, the fear still exists. It's a phenomenon that many psychologists and marine biologists relate to the book "Jaws" and Spielberg's movie "Jaws" which was based on the book. It seems like some people just cannot separate fiction from reality. "Nowadays, a few fatality rates result in revenge against these animals; and the shark phobia is still a serious problem for many people, even for those who live near the coast." (Stevens 12).
Scientists have been studying sharks trough the past years to get to know shark's behavior better in order to understand why do they sometimes attack people. In fact, sharks do not have a good sight. They can see colors but their sight is not good enough to distinguish for example a surfer from a seal or a turtle. "Sometimes they confuse humans with big fishes, turtles, seals, and other animals that take part in their diet. They do not attack humans for the sole purpose of hunger. In reality, sharks can go for many months without eating so they do not attack because they are hungry." (Stevens 86). This is not to say that sharks do not attack with the intention of seeking prey. Many attacks to humans (divers or surfers) can be connected to the search for food. "To a shark, a surfer on a surfboard slightly resembles that of a seal or a sea lion, or a diver in a black wetsuit can look like other prey" (Stevens 87).
When sharks feel that they are being provoked or when they are agitated by a person they can also attack on defense. "Many spear-fishers have been attacked by reef sharks because when they spear fish, the blood from the fish and its vibration can attract sharks." (Thomson 41).
There is no specific rule to avoid a shark attack. Even nowadays with all the technology available and all the studies on sharks' behavior, a shark attack is still unpredictable. But there are some directions which can be followed in order to decrease the already small chance of becoming a victim of a shark attack. First, a person should always swim in a group (sharks most often attack alone individuals). Another important thing is to avoid the water at night, dawn, or dusk. Many sharks are most active at these times and better able to find you than you are to see them; don't enter the water if bleeding; sharks can smell and taste blood, and trace it back to its source; don't wear shiny jewelry because the reflected light looks like shinning fish scales and avoid going into waters containing sewage. Sewage attracts bait fishes, which in turn attract sharks. Try to avoid the most to swim in waters being fished and those with lots of bait fishes. Diving seabirds are good indicators of such activities; don't enter the water if sharks are present. Leave immediately if sharks are seen; avoid uneven tan and brightly colored clothing. Sharks see contrast particularly well, so use extra caution when waters are cloudy; don't relax just because porpoises are nearby. Sightings of porpoises do not indicate the absence of sharks. Both often eat the same foods. (May 10).
People should try to read and get more information about sharks instead of accepting what the media tell them without questioning. "The extinction of sharks, due to man fishing for, or hunting sharks, and even man polluting the oceans is a reality" (Reader's Digest 92). Sharks are disappearing from the world's oceans. "Research groups estimate that some species of sharks have declined 80% in population in the last ten years. It is also estimates that a few species of sharks will be extinct within the next ten years" (Stevens 51). In order to fight against shark's extinction, people should get involved into some groups of shark's preservation and combat predatory fishing of those animals. Also the media takes advantage on the fact that people fear the unknown and that they love to listen to scary myths and things like that. The media should be more realistic and fight for shark preservation instead of referring to them as viscous and bloodthirsty animals. If the media continues to show Sharks as if they were monsters, people are going to feel in the right to fish them and continue the extermination process.
If you ask someone who had watched JAWS what was the impact the movie had on them, they will probably say it was not positive at all. Most people have misconceptions about sharks. The movie made people face sharks as horrible creatures and after the movie came out these people began to fear swimming in the sea. The media likes to sensationalize things. The idea of a big fish, full of acute teeth that are mostly like razors swimming in our beaches caused horror among people. This fear increased among many people that suffer from phobia of sharks. "This phobia is most known as Selachophobia - which is the scientific name for an abnormal and persistent fear of sharks - is a serious problem for many would-be swimmers." (Reader's Digest 25) Sufferers are usually completely unable to swim in the sea, even when reassured that shark nets other safety procedures are in force. "After the movie "Jaws" was released in 1975, the occurrence of Selachophobia had increased a lot. Some scientists argued that "Jaws" has been indirectly responsible for the wide-scale and irresponsible slaughter of sharks all over the world since 1975. It has contributed to the decline of great white populations as a result." (Compagno 27).
Until the beginning of the XX century, sharks were barely known among the public; swimming in the ocean was considered a quaint habit in the occident countries and just a few people had really seen a shark alive. "Myths related to sharks have played an important part among many cultures all around the world for many centuries. A jar founded in Italy, dated around 725 b.C., illustrates a man being swallowed by a big fish, and this was the first known occidental representation of a shark attack." (Macquitty 36). From that time on, there had been many artistic and literary descriptions of shark's attacks. Some brain trusts believe that the biblical story of Jonas was based originally on a great white shark, instead of a whale.
Is the movie "Jaws" responsible for all that scare? There is no denying that all general fear of sharks is a recent phenomenon and that it had increased a lot with the launching of Spielberg's movie, in 1975. "The clashing descriptions of the attacks and John William's memorable conquest initiated a lot of hysteria among people and the destruction of sharks all around the world." (Llewellyn 57). Sharks have also gotten a hard time for news reports. Whenever there is a shark attack, it is front page news, and it is always on the news channel. The worst part is that sharks are always shown as villains by the media. But people should be able to see that many sharks are fished and killed by humans. So who is actually the predator and who is the prey? "While the number of shark attacks is relatively rare, around 70 and 90 attacks per year in which most of the victims survive, the number of sharks being exterminated goes from 100 to 150 million per year." (Llewellyn 58).
The stories became alive for millions of people all around the world after the movie "Jaws" came out reminding people that there are many terrifying creatures hidden in our oceans. Different from the classical horror movies, in which the big impact is based on our imagination, "Jaws" was based in reality. Although the fish that terrified Amity's Island had never existed, the 5, 18 m and 2,035kg great white shark which had inspired Peter's Bencheley original story certainly existed. A row of fatal attacks in New Jersey in 1916 definitely happened; and by that time there was no massive covering media as we have nowadays. "Like the USS Indianopolis shipwreck in 1945 - a memorable event described by the character Quint on the first "Jaws" movie - , that resulted in hundreds of American sailor's deaths related to sharks attacks." (Macquitty 33).
It would not be a surprise that some people who had watched the movie had negative reactions related to the movie "Jaws". Although mane evidences prove that shark attacks are very rare - a person is more likely to be hit by a lightning than killed by a shark -, the fear still exists. It's a phenomenon that many psychologists and marine biologists relate to the book "Jaws" and Spielberg's movie "Jaws" which was based on the book. It seems like some people just cannot separate fiction from reality. "Nowadays, a few fatality rates result in revenge against these animals; and the shark phobia is still a serious problem for many people, even for those who live near the coast." (Stevens 12).
Scientists have been studying sharks trough the past years to get to know shark's behavior better in order to understand why do they sometimes attack people. In fact, sharks do not have a good sight. They can see colors but their sight is not good enough to distinguish for example a surfer from a seal or a turtle. "Sometimes they confuse humans with big fishes, turtles, seals, and other animals that take part in their diet. They do not attack humans for the sole purpose of hunger. In reality, sharks can go for many months without eating so they do not attack because they are hungry." (Stevens 86). This is not to say that sharks do not attack with the intention of seeking prey. Many attacks to humans (divers or surfers) can be connected to the search for food. "To a shark, a surfer on a surfboard slightly resembles that of a seal or a sea lion, or a diver in a black wetsuit can look like other prey" (Stevens 87).
When sharks feel that they are being provoked or when they are agitated by a person they can also attack on defense. "Many spear-fishers have been attacked by reef sharks because when they spear fish, the blood from the fish and its vibration can attract sharks." (Thomson 41).
There is no specific rule to avoid a shark attack. Even nowadays with all the technology available and all the studies on sharks' behavior, a shark attack is still unpredictable. But there are some directions which can be followed in order to decrease the already small chance of becoming a victim of a shark attack. First, a person should always swim in a group (sharks most often attack alone individuals). Another important thing is to avoid the water at night, dawn, or dusk. Many sharks are most active at these times and better able to find you than you are to see them; don't enter the water if bleeding; sharks can smell and taste blood, and trace it back to its source; don't wear shiny jewelry because the reflected light looks like shinning fish scales and avoid going into waters containing sewage. Sewage attracts bait fishes, which in turn attract sharks. Try to avoid the most to swim in waters being fished and those with lots of bait fishes. Diving seabirds are good indicators of such activities; don't enter the water if sharks are present. Leave immediately if sharks are seen; avoid uneven tan and brightly colored clothing. Sharks see contrast particularly well, so use extra caution when waters are cloudy; don't relax just because porpoises are nearby. Sightings of porpoises do not indicate the absence of sharks. Both often eat the same foods. (May 10).
People should try to read and get more information about sharks instead of accepting what the media tell them without questioning. "The extinction of sharks, due to man fishing for, or hunting sharks, and even man polluting the oceans is a reality" (Reader's Digest 92). Sharks are disappearing from the world's oceans. "Research groups estimate that some species of sharks have declined 80% in population in the last ten years. It is also estimates that a few species of sharks will be extinct within the next ten years" (Stevens 51). In order to fight against shark's extinction, people should get involved into some groups of shark's preservation and combat predatory fishing of those animals. Also the media takes advantage on the fact that people fear the unknown and that they love to listen to scary myths and things like that. The media should be more realistic and fight for shark preservation instead of referring to them as viscous and bloodthirsty animals. If the media continues to show Sharks as if they were monsters, people are going to feel in the right to fish them and continue the extermination process.
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