Without JAWS, would there be Shark Week?
It is difficult to determine with certainty what the state of "Shark Week" would be without the movie JAWS, as it is a hypothetical scenario. However, it is worth noting that JAWS, directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1975, had a significant impact on popular culture and the public's perception of sharks.
Before JAWS, sharks were generally not viewed with such widespread fear and fascination. The movie portrayed sharks as terrifying predators, and it became a massive box office success, leading to widespread media coverage and discussions about sharks and their behavior.
"Shark Week" itself, which is an annual television programming block dedicated to shark-related content, first aired on the Discovery Channel in 1988. While the exact motivations behind its creation may not be directly linked to the movie JAWS, there's no denying that the film played a role in shaping public perception and interest in sharks.
What the fans say
What the experts say
“There is no doubt that Jaws sparked fear, but also fascination amongst the general public upon its release back in 1975. Without that fear and fascination, I’m not sure the idea for shark week would have been scribbled on the infamous cocktail napkin back in the 80s by early Discovery channel producers. The Jaws effect is something that cannot be understated and undoubtedly defined shark media (positive & negative), for over 50 years after its release.”
“When looking at trends and timelines of shark movies, we know that Jaws was not the first shark movie, but it since the release of Jaws in 1975 there was a huge increase in shark films. It is unsurprising that given the huge success & popularity of Jaws, other film makers have tried to replicate the hype with shark films.
However, humans seem to have an innate fascination with things that are “scary”- take the huge popularity of true crime podcasts. Humans are also curious about things we don’t know a lot about- like space & the ocean. So shark week is the perfect formula of fear, intrigue, and a very impressive marketing campaign.
Given my research into shark (& other animal) media representations and fear of sharks, I believe that we would still have a huge number of shark documentaries and films in a world without Jaws, but there wouldn’t be as much confidence in dedicating a whole week to shark content if it wasn’t for the appreciation of Spielberg’s classic that transcends generations.”
It's possible that even without JAWS, there could still be some form of shark-themed programming or events, as sharks have always been intriguing creatures to many people. However, JAWS undoubtedly played a significant role in elevating the fear and fascination with sharks in popular culture, which could have indirectly influenced the creation and popularity of "Shark Week."
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