Jaws, although often viewed as a horror film, can evoke a feelgood nostalgia rooted in familiarity and personal experiences. The author reflects on their childhood connection to the maritime setting of the film and how it inspired their own adventures in marine life. Despite its legacy of fear that kept many from the water, Jaws also promoted a fascination with sharks, leading to personal achievements like cage diving. However, the film's impact on real shark populations has been detrimental, inspiring a harmful stigma around these creatures.
Ultimately Jaws proved disastrous for shark species, encouraging their mass slaughter in game-fishing tournaments and tarring them with a villainous reputation that has persisted through decades of attempted damage control.
When Jaws hit cinemas 50 years ago this June, it had people screaming in their seats; many still credit it with keeping them out of the water.
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