Jurassic Fear: How Social Media and Pop Culture are Harming Reptiles

Jurassic Park is molding our ideas of reptiles.

As we consider our preconceived notions of reptiles and exotics in general, we think of the popular ideas that surround us. In our digital age today, pop culture has taken the reins of our social media, work lives, and personal lives. As we navigate a world filled with abundant information and significant influence from numerous sources, known and unknown, we tend to form opinions on topics that may be foreign to us without even realizing it.^{[2]Cho, H., Cannon, J., Lopez, R., & Li, W. (2022). Social media literacy: A conceptual framework. New Media & Society, 26(2), 146144482110685. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448211068530View source}

Jurassic Park is an incredibly popular movie franchise that depicts the re-creation of dinosaurs using advanced technology, which contributed to society's perception of these creatures. The Jurassic Park franchise began as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of exorbitantly strong science and the peril of prioritizing greed and profit over reason.^{[7]Salerno, T. J. (2020). “Jurassic Park”: An Unexpected Parable for the Modern Age. Word on Fire. https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/jurassic-park-an-unexpected-parable-for-the-modern-age/View source}

Once a thriller, now a pretell

As the franchise continues, it moves in the direction of “horror” or “monster movie,” as Pugh calls it.^{[6]Pugh, C. (2023). Swallow You Whole: The Jurassic Park Franchise, Eco-Horror and the Devouring Gothic. Cinergie – Il Cinema E Le Altre Arti, 24, 87–99. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2280-9481/16748View source} There is a higher emphasis on the villainization of the dinosaurs, despite the animals being forcefully re-created and confined to housing in an amusement park-style enclosure, which, if real, would likely be inadequate by today’s welfare standards. As highlighted by Pugh, language throughout the franchise stresses the danger of the animals.^{[6]Pugh, C. (2023). Swallow You Whole: The Jurassic Park Franchise, Eco-Horror and the Devouring Gothic. Cinergie – Il Cinema E Le Altre Arti, 24, 87–99. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2280-9481/16748View source} In Jurassic Park (1993), the Tyrannosaurus is described as “ following her carnivorous instincts”.^{[6]Pugh, C. (2023). Swallow You Whole: The Jurassic Park Franchise, Eco-Horror and the Devouring Gothic. Cinergie – Il Cinema E Le Altre Arti, 24, 87–99. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2280-9481/16748View source} Likewise, in Jurassic World (2015), the characters state that “the laboratory-designed Indominus Rex kills for pleasure rather than sustenance”.^{[6]Pugh, C. (2023). Swallow You Whole: The Jurassic Park Franchise, Eco-Horror and the Devouring Gothic. Cinergie – Il Cinema E Le Altre Arti, 24, 87–99. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2280-9481/16748View source} As dinosaurs no longer exist, the wording choice in the Jurassic Park franchise may seem unimportant and like usual Hollywood exaggeration, but it may come with serious consequences for our ideation of today’s reptiles and the common fear that permeate society’s preconceived notions of these animals.

Dinosaurs and Reptiles have formed associations in our minds due to history, evolution, and pop culture.

The link between reptiles and Jurassic reptiles (aka dinosaurs) is a cognitive association built through the parallels drawn in both history and evolution.^{[5]Griffin, D. K., Larkin, D. M., O’Connor, R. E., & Romanov, M. N. (2022). Dinosaurs: Comparative Cytogenomics of Their Reptile Cousins and Avian Descendants. Animals, 13(1), 106. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010106View source} Lizards, snakes, and turtles are distantly related to dinosaurs (they share a reptilian ancestor) but diverged long before dinosaurs evolved.^{[5]Griffin, D. K., Larkin, D. M., O’Connor, R. E., & Romanov, M. N. (2022). Dinosaurs: Comparative Cytogenomics of Their Reptile Cousins and Avian Descendants. Animals, 13(1), 106. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010106View source} Despite this, the dinosaurs’ evolutionary connection with modern reptiles sees them commonly dubbed as ‘ancient reptiles’.^{[5]Griffin, D. K., Larkin, D. M., O’Connor, R. E., & Romanov, M. N. (2022). Dinosaurs: Comparative Cytogenomics of Their Reptile Cousins and Avian Descendants. Animals, 13(1), 106. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010106View source} Although they may not share the exact lineage, they have physical characteristics that connect them when recalled.^{[5]Griffin, D. K., Larkin, D. M., O’Connor, R. E., & Romanov, M. N. (2022). Dinosaurs: Comparative Cytogenomics of Their Reptile Cousins and Avian Descendants. Animals, 13(1), 106. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010106View source} This unique connection between the species is likely due to their scaly skin, ability to lay shelled eggs, and being cold-blooded (though the latter is heavily debated). As a result, it is not out of the question to assume that an equal cognitive connection exists between the “monstrous” stereotype we give to dinosaurs and the everyday perception of reptiles.

The future direction of reptile research aims to support the welfare needs of different species.

A paper by Fatima Ali discusses the incredible suffering that Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes have faced due to media myths.^{[1]Ali, Fatima. (2018). Demystifying the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Yorku.ca. https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/items/445ac859-a1fb-4cb0-8f39-53d6e48f089eView source} The paper demonstrates that the threat to the species’ survival led the Toronto Zoo to launch a program to reduce the stigma surrounding the snake.^{[1]Ali, Fatima. (2018). Demystifying the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Yorku.ca. https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/items/445ac859-a1fb-4cb0-8f39-53d6e48f089eView source} Another paper discussed how media and rapidly advancing science surrounding Mesozoic Non-Avian Dinosaurs have created an arduous environment for new information to be presented and used in places like museums.^{[3]Feller, C. (2020). Dinosaur Representation in Museums: How the Struggle Between Scientific Accuracy and Pop Culture Affects the Public Perception of Mesozoic Non-Avian Dinosaurs in Museums. Museum Studies Theses. https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/museumstudies_theses/27/View source} Feller examined the struggles museums face amid the influx of inaccurate or rapidly evolving information about dinosaurs, illustrating how movies and entertainment reinforce outdated ideas, leading the public to favor the media’s perspective over evolving understanding.^{[3]Feller, C. (2020). Dinosaur Representation in Museums: How the Struggle Between Scientific Accuracy and Pop Culture Affects the Public Perception of Mesozoic Non-Avian Dinosaurs in Museums. Museum Studies Theses. https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/museumstudies_theses/27/View source} There is a link between how society accepts information and how it is ingrained in our society; by refusing to welcome evidence, we continue to perpetuate hurtful myths from the past, impacting vulnerable parties.^{[3]Feller, C. (2020). Dinosaur Representation in Museums: How the Struggle Between Scientific Accuracy and Pop Culture Affects the Public Perception of Mesozoic Non-Avian Dinosaurs in Museums. Museum Studies Theses. https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/museumstudies_theses/27/View source} Jurassic Park is one of the biggest players in this concept, illustrating how we can gain new insights from various aspects, including the evolutionary relationship between reptiles and Mesozoic Non-Avian Dinosaurs.

Negative views may impact our ability to push reptile welfare forward

Highlighting animals for entertainment value greatly diminishes our desire to study, fund, and assist those species. This puts them at great risk of harm, which we already see significantly with reptiles and our lack of support for non-megafauna. While we allow inaccurate media to cloud our minds and push pernicious theories on our movies and shows, we degrade species, ideas, and knowledge. You may not have a clear connection in your head of a Jurassic Park character and your bearded dragon as it attempts (and fails) to catch its cricket for the third time. Though think of how seeing a herbivorous Rhino iguana could make you think of a carnivorous Tyrannosaurus Rex screaming in your face, with saliva dripping. How many of your ideas surrounding what a Komodo Dragon might do to you if you see it are fueled by the same behaviors as the Indominus Rex?

Photo Credit: Figi banded iguana.^{[8]Svoboda, J. https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/2407822-fiji-banded-iguanaView source}