Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Researchers analysing recent BBC and Netflix nature documentaries found that although they increasingly mention threats to nature, visual depictions of these threats remain scarce, potentially misleading audiences on the state of the natural world.
The findings are discussed in a Perspective published in the British Ecological Society journal People and Nature
Researchers from Bangor University, University of Kent, Newcastle University and University of Oxford coded the scripts from the four most recent David Attenborough narrated series. They found the Netflix series Our Planet dedicated 15% of the script to environmental threats and conservation, far exceeding the BBC series Planet Earth II and Dynasties, with only Blue Planet II coming close to this figure.
The researchers also highlighted the uniqueness of Our Planet in weaving the topic of human impacts on nature throughout each episode rather than being the subject of a dedicated final episode, which was done in Blue Planet II.
Despite the more frequent mentions of threats to nature, the researchers noted how visually similar Our Planet was to the other series they analysed. It had few visual depictions of the threats and largely showed the natural world as pristine and separate from humans, something nature documentaries have often been criticised for in the past.
Professor Julia Jones, lead author, said: “One could argue that by using camera angles to avoid showing any sign of people, nature film makers are being disingenuous, and even actively misleading audiences. The viewer may be led to believe that things cannot be that bad for biodiversity as what they are seeing on the screen shows nature, for the most part, doing fine.
“The inextricable link between threats to the natural world and the high consumption of western lifestyles would be more difficult to ignore if the presence, or even dominance, of commercial agriculture, mining and transport infrastructure were more visible in the landscapes, reducing the space for the awe-inspiring wild spectacles shown.”
Nature documentaries have the potential to elicit behavioural change and increase support for conservation but to what extent is not well understood. “Previous studies have shown that documentaries can increase willingness amongst viewers to make personal lifestyle changes, increase support for conservation organisations, and generate positivity towards an issue, making policy change more likely. However, we still don’t understand the mechanisms by which these changes take place. Considerable research is needed to investigate how viewing nature, portrayed as threatened or pristine, in a documentary affects people in ways which might, ultimately, contribute to saving it.” Said Laura Thomas-Walters, co-author.
The researchers suggest collaboration between filmmakers and researchers could help us understand the impacts of these documentaries. Dr Diogo Vesrissimo, co-author, said: “there is limited evidence on the causal relationships between viewing a documentary and subsequent behaviour change. Nature documentary producers should work with researchers to better understand these positive and negative impacts”.
“Empirical data needs to be collected to examine whether showing anthropogenic impacts is actually more effective at spurring behaviour change amongst audiences.” Added Laura Thomas-Walters.
Read the full paper :
Jones JPG, Thomas?Walters L, Rust NA, Veríssimo D. Nature documentaries and saving nature: Reflections on the new Netflix series Our Planet. People Nat. 2019;00:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10052
Learn more: Nature documentaries increasingly talk about threats to nature, but still don’t show them
The Latest on: Nature documentaries
via Google News
The Latest on: Nature documentaries
- Effects of drying temperature in solution coating process on the structural changes upon uniaxial stretching of sphere-forming block copolymer filmson December 2, 2019 at 3:29 am
The correlation between mechanical properties and the structural changes of a block copolymer having spherical microdomains in uniaxial stretching was examined by atomic force microscopy observations ...
- Gene editing is the subject of an accessible and engaging documentary from Adam Bolton December 2, 2019 at 3:02 am
Adam Bolt's accessible, engaging documentary – co-written with Regina Sobel – is ... The strongest element in Human Nature is Bolt's ability to match abstract theory with what it could mean for ...
- Kangaroos Have 'Friendly' Fight at Wildlife Shelter in New South Waleson December 2, 2019 at 2:50 am
Kangaroos by nature are not aggressive,” the wildlife shelter wrote on Facebook ... Image: Getty The first episode of ABC's 'Silent No More' program as been criticised by some advocates who claim the ...
- Puneites get close and personal with nature through forest bathingon December 1, 2019 at 9:44 pm
All you need to do is slow down and follow your senses. Find a spot, sit there and just soak in everything nature has to offer.” India was introduced to Shinrin-yoku only recently, and at the ...
- 10 documentaries to watch on Netflix if you want to learn something newon December 1, 2019 at 6:00 am
The documentary was released on Netflix via Barack and Michelle Obama's production ... it exists in our minds as a multi-colored, albeit animated, wildlife masterpiece. But in reality, the Great ...
- The Best Documentaries on Disney Plus Right Nowon November 30, 2019 at 8:45 am
It’s a little clunkily organized, but there’s plenty of documentary fare available on the streaming platform to sate your appetite for knowledge. We’ve assembled a list of some of the best titles, ...
- Expert wildlife tracker featured in documentary seeks aidon November 29, 2019 at 2:49 am
An expert wildlife tracker, noted for being a significant part of the award-winning Krupakar-Senani wildlife documentary on the elusive dhole, is struggling to make a living and has appealed to the ...
- Better Angels Documentary Sparks Interest in SB Red/Blue Workshopon November 28, 2019 at 11:00 pm
The organization’s name comes from Lincoln’s Inaugural call to a divided nation to be touched by the “better angels of our nature.” What the citizens organization advocates is a better way of talking ...
- Wildlife films to animate the 'biodiversity super year'on November 26, 2019 at 9:04 am
Winners and finalist films entered into the competition will be shown throughout 2020, known as “biodiversity super year” around the world and at various major events. CITES Secretary-General Ivonne ...
- Who Is Liz Bonnin? The TV Presenter's Love For Nature Shaped Her Career Pathon November 25, 2019 at 7:32 am
With countless wildlife and natural history documentaries under her belt, presenter Liz Bonnin is a familiar face to many BBC viewers. Her most recent venture was for Blue Planet Live last year, and ...
via Bing News