Untitled

Great article on how the movie Jaws shaped societal views on sharks as hunters of humans, that sadly, continues to this day. I want to share some memories of how Jaws influenced me. After I saw Jaws (first run, in the theater with my mom; I think it was Dayton Mall Cinema 2) I was scared to death of sharks, sometimes to the point of imagining that a shark was going to grab my leg in the deep end of the pool. One of my most vivid memories of being afraid of sharks was on a family vacation to Florida in 1976. My parents went in the Gulf to swim. My sister Amy Weber and I were literally hysterical on the beach, screaming at them to come out because we were afraid they would be eaten and we would be orphans! (BTW, this was the same vacation I watched Psycho in the hotel room and was afraid to take a shower and my first time flying on a jet plane after going with my mom to Dabel theater to see Airport 1975. I’m sure they must have whipped out the benadryl on that flight. Note to parents: we might have been a little young for these kinds of movies and did you take me to see the original Airport in 1970 when I was 5? If so, thank you because it has shaped my love of scary things as well as made me the lovable neurotic I am today! ) Even though sharks terrified me, at the same time they fascinated me as well. I bought every magazine I could find on sharks- and there were plenty in the late 70’s. I read Peter Benchley’s novel over and over. Some heavy reading for a 10 year old. I would recite monologues from the movie into my cassette recorder (I was kind of a nerd). I knew Quint’s USS Indianapolis speech by heart. I still get a little queasy swimming in the ocean but I like to think I have a better understanding of sharks and that they are not “hunting” humans. They just think we look like sweet tasting seals or tangy turtles or brightly colored and delicious tasting fish (you decide which one you are) 🐠. I respect sharks and know that when I go into the ocean, I am on their turf. They might decide to bite me. It is up to me if I take that risk or not. Jaws will be playing on the big screen this summer in the city where I live and I will be there even though I’ve seen it more times than I can count. Even though I know that sharks don’t hunt humans, I anticipate some nervousness when I am at the pool later this summer. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s pretty awesome! Duuun dun duuun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun BOM BOM dun dun dun dun dun dun doo dedoo doo dedoo dede doo dede doo dededoo