Documentaries have come a long way since they started hitting our screens, and have become important sources of eduction. However, it is vital that we know how to help them become the tools for positive change that they have the potential to be.

2020 demonstrated a shift in the wildlife documentaries that we see on our screens – transitioning from showing us our amazing ecosystems, to emphasising the threats that they face. Sir David Attenborough’s documentaries epitomised this. Not too long ago, their sole focus was on the beauty of nature in documentaries such as in Life on Earth. The threats of the climate crisis would be mentioned briefly in later documentaries like Blue Planet 2. Recently, Extinction: The Facts, was released. This brought the discussion about the severe threats that nature faces to our screens. He has since gone on to narrate A Life on Our Planet, giving a first-hand view of the issues (such as climate change and habitat destruction) we face. These are not the only documentaries of this sort to have been released, but I feel that they demonstrate the shift perfectly.

Of course, it is not just Sir David Attenborough’s documentaries that provide viewers with vital insights into the troubles faced by our world, but his are probably the most well-known examples. A huge variety of documentaries do this, and I can say first-hand that many of these are extremely powerful. For example, the documentary Cowspiracy presents some eye-opening footage and hard-hitting, poignant facts (one is that humans and the animals we own, pets and livestock, make up 98% of all animal biomass on Earth, while wild animals make up just 2%). These aspects combined convinced me to become vegetarian. Also, I can honestly say that Chasing Coral is one of the only films that has made me emotional. After being lucky enough to see a coral reef, the film brought tears to my eyes as I watched the unique time-lapses of coral bleaching. Similar footage was shown to an audience in the film, which made for a powerful moment as many of them cried too. These documentaries really do hit home – seeing our world destroyed in such a brutal way would bring tears to anyone’s eyes. But the good news is that the documentaries have brought these issues to light, and many have been known to make real changes. Blackfish, a documentary about the cruelty of keeping orcas captive, led to something termed the ‘Blackfish Effect’, when SeaWorld reported almost a 33% fall in its stock price. Unfortunately, the memory of Blackfish was not enough to fully make a change as SeaWorld’s audience has been growing, but it shows the amazing effect that documentaries can have. Perhaps one more documentary about the issue would be the final nail in the coffin for the issue of captive orcas.

Of course, this is just a minuscule number of examples (and if you haven’t already, I highly recommend watching both) but the chances are that if you want to learn about a subject, there is a documentary not far away to help. We are amazingly lucky to have the opportunity to learn about our world from what we watch; to immerse ourselves in a rainforest in Costa Rica, a coral reef in Australia, a desert in Namibia, or any other beautiful but inaccessible ecosystem, from the comfort of our own sofas. Yet, along with all the beauty we see, documentaries are able to open our eyes to the grisly facts on environmental and climatic threats and the desperate need for change. Equally, they tell us about amazing success stories and reasons to be positive. This makes for a great watch, but can also have a hugely positive impact.

However, documentaries are not made for the sole purpose of telling us what is happening in the world. They give an insight into what we can do to help. There is little point in Sir David Attenborough telling us about the issues of climate change and habitat destruction if those watching do not become part of the solution. What makes documentaries a special and unique platform to talk about the climate crisis is that they reach so many people in a very short time frame and it is, theoretically, possible for a documentary to make a huge number of people change the way they live for the better. For example, an estimated 4.5 million viewers watched Extinction: The Facts when it premiered in 2020, giving the potential for millions of people to make a change – literally overnight. They can be an extremely powerful tool for change in a world where change is vital. As the year flips into 2021, we will no doubt see many more incredible, yet sometimes horrific and thought-provoking, documentaries hit out screens. But, this year more than ever, it is important that as we watch them, we really think about what we can do to help. If each of us do this, the documentaries of 2021 could see a shift in the mindsets of those watching and cause a positive change in our world.

So, the question is, what can we do in 2021 to help documentaries change the world for the better? Well, the first thing is to simply watch as many documentaries as you fancy – the more the merrier! I can assure you that there are innumerable examples out there that will pique your interest, and from which you will learn about some invaluable subjects. This brings me onto the second thing to mention; always research further into the subjects of documentaries to learn more. Though they give you a great overview of a subject, there is always more to learn (for example, the websites of environmental charities are good places to look). Don’t just take what you hear at face value, look into it, learn about it so you can educate others, and moreover, find out how you can help. This is the third thing to do; always find out exactly how you can be part of a solution. Some are obvious, such as the aforementioned documentary Cowspiracy that clearly presents the benefits of becoming vegetarian and vegan, but others might not be. This is why, to really allow documentaries to become the powerful sources for change that they can be in 2021, everyone watching must look further into them and make a commitment to learn. This will allow us to become part of the change that we need to start nudging our world in the right direction when it comes to nature and the environment.

Thank you to our in-house illustrator, Laura Cuppage, for her wonderful illustrations. You can check out more of her work here.

The Evolution of Wildlife Documentaries

Documentaries have come a long way since they started hitting our screens, and have become important sources of eduction. However, it is vital that we know how to help them become the tools for positive change that they have the potential to be.