Killer Whales in Human Culture

Killer Whales in Popular Culture

Since the Killer Whales are so fascinating, they have found their way into history, literature, and films. The earliest known writing about them comes from 70 A.D. where they are explained as being a creature that is huge and unlike anything you have ever seen in your life. This writing also says that Killer Whales are the enemy and that they need to be hunted before they do the hunting.

Popular Legends

There are plenty of fascinating stories in various cultures about Killer Whales too. One of them is that in the summer these creatures are whales but in the winter they are wolves that roam the land. This is believed to be a belief that stemmed from the fact that these Killer Whales reside somewhere in the winter months that we still don’t know about.

Another popular story is that the fishermen believed the Killer Whales were there to guide them to the best fish. Before they would go on such an expedition, they would sprinkle the water with tobacco in honor of these whales.

Books and Literature about Killer Whales

When it comes to literature with Killer Whales in them, you will find two different pictures portrayed. The first is the helpful whale that protects humans as well as the waters around them. The other is the whale that is a predator and out to kill all of the humans and the animals in its path.

A great book out there is called Orca: Visions of the Killer Whale. This is a great book that covers these creatures as well as many of the stories and myths about them. You will learn plenty about human culture and what the Killer Whale has meant to them over time. You will also get to see many things from a universal standpoint about the Killer Whale. If what you have read before was all negative towards them, this reading material can help to open up your mind to a different view of them.

Killer Whales in Films

Many of us remember the Jaws movie from the early 1970’s as well as many of the sequels. Killer Whales are portrayed in them as very vicious and something to be afraid of. Most people took that image with them and were very afraid to be in waters where Killer Whales were known to have been spotted.

One of the best family films out there with Killer Whales portrayed in it is called Free Willy. It was released in 1993 and covers one of them in captivity that should be returned to the wild. The film is based on the true story of the Killer Whale that is in it. He was placed into captivity after being hurt in Iceland. He was taken to Oregon where he was cared for. He was later returned to his natural habitat but continued to need the assistance of humans to survive. He died in 2003 after becoming ill with pneumonia.

Killer Instincts is a DVD documentary about the Killer Whale. It shows real life footage of them and their lives. This is a great way to explore what the life of them is really like without getting too close yourself. You will be taken to places in the lives of Killer Whales that until now you had only read about.

If you are interested in Killer Whales there are plenty of forms of entertainment out there about them. It can be an eye opening experience to explore some of the earlier materials compared to what we know today. You will find that the point of view taken can be very different too depending on what the feelings are of the author when it comes to Killer Whales.