Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Fall 12-4-2025

Faculty Advisor(s)

Jocelyn Buckner

Abstract

Some of our favorite films, theatre productions, and live performances involve animals. A Dog's Purpose, Annie, Barnum and Bailey circus; the list is endless. But have you ever wondered, "How do they train them?" and "Is this benefiting or harming the animals?" Animals in entertainment have a long history dating back to ancient civilizations. Research done by World Animal Protection found that three out of four tourist animal attractions involve some form of animal abuse, and up to 550,000 animals around the world suffer due to these cruel attractions for human amusement. This does not imply that all animals used in entertainment are being unethically cared for; however, the fact that incidents still occur today is a concern. Theater and film have long used animals to captivate audiences. Seeing an animal exhibit an unnatural behavior creates a spectacle. An example is Toto from The Wizard of Oz (1939) pulling open the curtain to reveal the wizard. While animal cruelty has become less frequent in these two entertainment forms, incidents still occur. Other entertainment forms that have a history of cruelty are circuses, which are notorious for the unethical treatment of animals. In contrast, a positive example is the conservation presentations at zoos, which allow people to learn more about animals by observing their natural behaviors. This thesis explores and examines various forms of entertainment, including theatre, cinema, circuses, live performances, parks, and zoos. We examine ethical considerations, practices, past incidents, and regulations established by organizations such as the American Humane Society to advocate for the ethical treatment of animals. While these animal performers have the spotlight on stage, the focus needs to shift offstage so that one can ask, Is it worth continuing to use animals in entertainment, or should alternatives be considered?

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Presented at the Fall 2025 Student Scholar Symposium at Chapman University.

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