THE REPRESENTATION OF ANIMALS IN POPULAR MEDIA: A SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Animal narratives occupy a prominent position within contemporary media landscapes, permeating popular forms of entertainment, news, and advertising. These representations have crystallized into recognizable and widely consumed genres, indicative of a sustained cultural fascination with animals. At first glance, the proliferation of viral animal videos, pet programs, wildlife documentaries, and nature-focused media channels, as well as box office trends, reflects the widespread public appetite for particular types of animal imagery. From a critical sociocultural standpoint, however, these media discourses do more than merely entertain – they function as mechanisms through which dominant constructs of animals are produced, circulated, and normalized. These sociocultural constructs are often entangled with broader systems of commodification and serve to reinforce normative frameworks of human-animal relations. This paper examines abovementioned issues, analyzing the complex intersections of industrial, social, and ethical dimensions that underpin the media’s role in shaping contemporary representations of animals.