Publication details
Když kosatky chtějí, vidí do duše člověka. Možnosti lidských a mimolidských setkávání skrze audiovizuální umění
| Title in English | Orcas Can See into a Person's Soul when They Want to. Possibilities of Human and Non-human Encounters Through Audiovisual Art |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
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| Citation | |
| Description | This paper explores human-animal interactions as represented in audiovisual art, taking as its starting point the film Free Willy (1993) and the animal-actor who represents the protagonist of the movie: the real-life orca Keiko. By analyzing how popular media shapes public perception and treatment of animals, it uses Free Willy as a case study to highlight the cultural and ethical implications of depicting animals in human-centered narratives and describes the complexities associated with rewilding animals who were once conditioned to human care. Contrasting such depictions with newer forms of filmmaking, such as “slow animal cinema”, which provide more authentic, non-dramatized representations of animal life, this study questions the anthropocentric lens through which animals are often viewed in popular culture. Less human-centered approaches aim to respect the autonomy of animals and encourage deeper understanding beyond anthropocentric narratives, offering the hope of more complex human-animal interactions. In conclusion, this paper calls for a shift in how animals are represented in visual culture, advocating for ethical storytelling that respects animals as independent beings with agency rather than as objects of human entertainment. |
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