The role of artists and filmmakers
How could I blog about the natural world without addressing the importance of visual mediums for spreading the gospel of environmental stewardship. I thank Sir David Attenborough's thought provoking narration and the BBC for showing the beauty of nature.
My personal favourite, Seven Worlds One Planet, transports you across the world to all continents, honing in on the brave and endangered.
Why are nature documentaries so compelling? They provide solace in an unpredictable world. Animals demonstrate true hope and determination, they show us we can achieve the extraordinary in a life-threatening situation. Animals remind us to be present and in touch with our senses which we consciously distract ourselves from, in our hectic lives. They demonstrate - believe in yourself, you can do this, never give up.
I was honoured to speak with Tim Flach, a photographer and artist on his most recent work - Endangered. Collaborating with Jonathan Baillie, Tim aims to revamp traditional wildlife photography which created a sense of 'otherness' from animals that dampened conservation efforts. Tim uses anthropomorphic representations of animals to evoke viewers emotions and enhance a feeling of kinship, thereby, motivating conservation.
You can do the best science in the world but unless emotion is involved it's not really relevant. Conservation is based on emotion. It comes from the heart and one should never forget that. (Schaller cited in Flach, 2019)
On that quote, I will let Tim speak for himself, I hope you enjoy the interview!
Artistic Importance
Presenting the vulnerability of nature in the mainstream helps educate citizens on the importance of biodiversity. Awareness is the first step towards changing attitudes on conservation. However, after Planet Earth II premiered with 12.2 million views, big data analysts observed a surge in Google entries on species that were 'charismatic', not those in need of conservation. Neither did a spike in donations towards conservation charities follow. This led researchers to call for impact evaluations to inform how mainstream media can motivate active support. Interestingly, a new journal People and Nature conducts interdisciplinary research on this very topic. Ultimately, the path for nature conservation is prosperous, with science communicators like Flach and Attenborough, we have the potential to save the endangered.
Jojo x
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