Technological divergence and the portrayal of nature in outdoors programming

Abstract

The progression of film technology, both its production and distribution, has followed a steady path of greater diversity of distribution channels and lower minimum cost of production. This paper looks at the portrayal of Nature in outdoor programming (hunting and fishing programs) as a way of illustrating what this means for filmmakers. I survey the history of outdoor films and programming in terms of its portrayal of humans and nature following a Dominion model or a Stewardship model. I then analyze two main types of outdoor programming, hunting programs and fly fishing films, and their main channels of distribution and how they have come to diverge in their portrayal of nature. I conclude that the trend towards divergence will continue and that this means filmmakers have the opportunity and possibly the obligation to speak more directly to ever more specific demographics.