Human Impact on Marine Mammal Strandings: The Joining of Worlds Through Documentary Film
Marshall, Vanessa Jane
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Marshall, V. J. (2017). Human Impact on Marine Mammal Strandings: The Joining of Worlds Through Documentary Film (Thesis, Master of Science Communication). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/7800
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http://hdl.handle.net/10523/7800
Abstract:
The title of this thesis is “Human Impact on Marine Mammal Strandings: The Joining of Worlds Through Documentary Film”. The “worlds” referred to here are science, conservation agendas, aesthetics and psychology all in the context of whale strandings and the impact humans have on them. These are all explored briefly in the chapters of this thesis to support the documentary film produced as the major creative component of this thesis. The film, “Once a Pod of Whales”, aims to join these seemingly disparate worlds in a balanced way to communicate both social and scientific concepts more effectively. In separate chapters the science behind cetacean strandings is reviewed at a global level (though with strong focus on New Zealand research because of the locality of the documentary film), exploring the many different theories surrounding indirect and direct causes. Biological and physical factors and specific anthropogenic effects are investigated as causes. Conservation agendas in contemporary New Zealand relating to whales and stranding events are then described, as well as aspects of the aesthetics and psychology of human response to strandings. Throughout, I refer to observations of my practical experience during the making of the documentary film.
Date:
2017
Advisor:
Rock, Jennifer
Degree Name:
Master of Science Communication
Degree Discipline:
Centre for Science Communication
Publisher:
University of Otago
Keywords:
whale strandings; science; aesthetics; documentary film; New Zealand; conservation; Project Jonah; Department of Conservation; Iwi
Research Type:
Thesis
Languages:
English
Collections
- Centre for Science Communication [144]
- Thesis - Masters [3381]