Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Considering connections between Hollywood and biodiversity conservation. / Silk, Matthew J.; Crowley, Sarah L.; Woodhead, Anna et al.
In: Conservation Biology, Vol. 32, No. 3, 06.2018, p. 597-606.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Considering connections between Hollywood and biodiversity conservation
AU - Silk, Matthew J.
AU - Crowley, Sarah L.
AU - Woodhead, Anna
AU - Nuno, Ana
PY - 2018/6
Y1 - 2018/6
N2 - Cinema offers a substantial opportunity to share messages with a wide audience. Given its global range and potentially high impact, there is an urgent need for research that evaluates the effects of this form of visual media on conservation outcomes. Cinema can influence the awareness and behaviours of non-specialist audiences, and could therefore play an important positive and/or negative role in biodiversity conservation through behavioural change and social pressure on key stakeholders and policy makers. Limited awareness about the potential benefits and limitations of cinema for conservation, as well as a lack of evidence about impacts, currently hinder our ability to learn from previous and ongoing initiatives, and to engage productively with the movie industry. We discuss the key opportunities and risks that arise from cinematic representations of conservation issues and species of concern, making use of examples and case studies where they are available. We additionally provide a framework that enables conservationists to better understand and engage with the film industry, highlighting how this can facilitate engagement with the movie industry, harness its potential, and improve work to mitigate any negative consequences. A robust evidence base is key for evaluating and planning these engagements, and for informing related policy and management decisions.
AB - Cinema offers a substantial opportunity to share messages with a wide audience. Given its global range and potentially high impact, there is an urgent need for research that evaluates the effects of this form of visual media on conservation outcomes. Cinema can influence the awareness and behaviours of non-specialist audiences, and could therefore play an important positive and/or negative role in biodiversity conservation through behavioural change and social pressure on key stakeholders and policy makers. Limited awareness about the potential benefits and limitations of cinema for conservation, as well as a lack of evidence about impacts, currently hinder our ability to learn from previous and ongoing initiatives, and to engage productively with the movie industry. We discuss the key opportunities and risks that arise from cinematic representations of conservation issues and species of concern, making use of examples and case studies where they are available. We additionally provide a framework that enables conservationists to better understand and engage with the film industry, highlighting how this can facilitate engagement with the movie industry, harness its potential, and improve work to mitigate any negative consequences. A robust evidence base is key for evaluating and planning these engagements, and for informing related policy and management decisions.
KW - CITES
KW - consumer research
KW - Google trends analysis
KW - impact evaluation
KW - industry engagement
KW - nature deficit disorder
KW - social media
KW - wildlife trade
U2 - 10.1111/cobi.13030
DO - 10.1111/cobi.13030
M3 - Journal article
VL - 32
SP - 597
EP - 606
JO - Conservation Biology
JF - Conservation Biology
SN - 0888-8892
IS - 3
ER -