The making of a (dog) movie star: The effect of the portrayal of dogs in movies on breed registrations in the United States.

ABSTRACT: The media is a powerful force that can affect the welfare of the domiciled dog population. Dogs have long been in human stories and their depictions can create demand for the breeds shown. While previous research has found that this effect can last for up to ten years after the release of a movie, how this phenomenon occurs is unknown. This paper examines if how a dog is portrayed in a movie is associated with a subsequent change in American Kennel Club breed registrations for that breed. Following a systematic literature review, four key themes were identified in how dogs are portrayed in the media; dogs portrayed as heroes, as anthropomorphised, as embodying the ideals of Western societies (Whiteness and heteronormativity) and as boundaries between wilderness and human society. Forty mov

SUBMITTER: Weir S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8754329 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature