Part 2

Elephants in Art

Elephants have been a focus of art since prehistoric times and people have found several instances of elephants in cave drawings. Several of these pieces have been named as World Heritage sites and other protected regions. Researchers believe that these depictions suggest that early humans had a deep understanding of elephant intelligence, family structure, behavior and communication and that they describe a symbiotic relationship between humans and elephants.

Elephants in cave paintings

They have also been a focus for many modern works. One of the most famous ones is The Elephants, by Salvador Dali. The painting plays upon the idea of elephants as a symbol of strength, dominance and power due to their bulk and size. Dali depicts the animals with long, spindly legs but emphasizes the traditional ideas of strength by placing heavy-looking obelisks on their backs. This piece is widely known as a good example of surrealist work where a phantom sense of reality is emphasized. 

The Elephants by Salvador Dali

Literature

Horton Hears a Who cover

Elephants have also been widely depicted in literature. One famous example is the popular book Horton Hears a Who by Dr Seuss. In this children's book, Horton the elephant discovers that a tiny speck of dust is actually a planet and goes through great lengths to protect the citizens even though he is tormented by his jungle companions. The book has been widely popularized due to the phrase "A person's a person, no matter how small" and has even been made in to a movie. The usage of an elephant for the main character is very fitting for the book considering it's message about conservation and protection. The book can be said to be a discussion on the measures that must be taken to protect wild animals (elephants included) against habitat destruction, fragmentation and deforestation. All of these things threaten the habitats of wild animals across the globe. Extending this message to children as a target audience would hopefully emphasize the need for awareness and action from a young age.

Film

Original 1941 release poster

One of the more popular appearances of elephants in children's films is the Disney classic Dumbo (click link for trailer). Released in 1941, it followed the story of a young elephant who is constantly ridiculed for his abnormally large ears. He overcomes various obstacles and learns to fly, using his ears as wings. An elephant was most likely chosen to be the main character because they are easy animals to anthropomorphize and most children are fascinated by exotic animals. The main message of the film was about overcoming fears, ridicule and other obstacles to realize your full potential. This message is better suited for children as they require positive reinforcement and are more susceptible to negative influence from others. Hopefully, the film would inspire children to ignore the negative people in their life to work for their dreams.

A popular adult movie featuring elephants is the 2011 film Water for Elephants (click link for trailer). The film focuses on the story of a young man who joins a circus as their vet and tries to deal with abuse and violence towards animals, women and several other circus hands. The movie was an adaptation of Sara Gruen's novel by the same name. While Rosie the elephant is only a minor character, she plays an important role in the exposure of the abuse that is present in the circus. Because circuses are so often critized for their usage of elephants, featuring this species was probably an easy choice. This film has a much more mature message than Dumbo, being that individuals have the right, if not the responsibility, to stand up for the defenseless when they are being abused or mistreated. Many adults struggle with this idea and it is always a good message to reinforce.

Religion

Ganesha, a Hindu god

Elephants have long since been a focus of religion as they are a large subject of focus in their native landscapes. In Africa, they have a large spiritual significance in several ways. Certain tribes believe that elephants contain the souls of their ancestors while others believe that chiefs are reincarnated in the animals. Many important leaders are also buried with elephant tusks when they die. In Asia, elephants are linked with gods with much more significance. Hindus have the elephant-headed god Ganesha that is ranked as equally important as their supreme gods. In Buddhism, it is said that Buddha was a white elephant reincarnated as a human. Also, the Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad was born in the year 570 which is known as the Year of the Elephant. Lastly, Romans believed that elephants themselves practiced a form of religion, worshiping the sun and stars. All of these beliefs solidify the role of the species in their native landscapes. They become protected from humans to a certain extent because they are revered, respected, and worshiped through the religions. Both species of elephants probably would have become extinct or even more endangered than they already are.

Controversy

One of the most controversial uses of elephants is their feature in many circuses. Organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States and PETA have accused circuses of mistreating and abusing the animals in order to provoke certain responses. Many circuses acknowledge that tools such as bull hooks are necessary in order to ensure the protection of the human trainers but deny that they cause harm to the animal. Nevertheless, critics are adamant about the need to change current practices regarding circus elephants. Some have pushed for methods that do not use physical punishment while more extremist groups demand the discontinuation of elephants in the circus. Since the animals are mainly being used for our entertainment, it is not necessary for us to continue to employ them in circuses. However, I believe that it is possible to use more positive training and handling methods in order to continue their feature. They can be used as a great source of learning and exposure concerning issues with deforestation and conservation if they are utilized and featured effectively.

References

Paterson, Andrew (December 2004). "Elephants of the Cederberg Wilderness Area". The Digging Stick 24 (3): 1-4. ISSN 1013-7521.

Pickler, N. (4 March 2009). "Circus CEO says elephants are stuck, but not hurt". Associated Press.

"Salvador Dali Gallery - Memories of Surrealism: Space Elephant". SavadorDaliExperts.com

Sukumar, R. (2003). The Living Elephants: Evolutionary Ecology, Behaviour, and Conservation. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-510778-4.

Van Riper, A.B. (2002). Science in Popular Culture: A Reference Guide. Greenwood Press. pp. 73-75. ISBN 0-313-31822-0.

Wylie, D. (2009). Elephant. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-86189-397-0.