Whale Wars: A Somewhat Psychoanalytic Review
Keywords:
Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Whales, Sea Shepherds, Whaling, JapanAbstract
Freudian metapsychology can be used to understand cultural phenomenon, especially when there is conflict between differing groups. Reality television, in depicting such conflicts, provides an opportunity to glimpse the underlying unconscious currents motivating group behavior that are at times, seemingly irrational. The television show Whale Wars is a prime example of this aspect of reality-based television. Through its portrayal of the real conflict between Japanese whalers and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the show reveals unconscious motivations and group dynamics that conform to Freud’s theories. This paper will review the psychology of the Sea Shepherds and their relation to the Japanese whalers in an attempt to bring greater perspective and understanding to the conflict.
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