Aquarium Events

August 3 | 6:00pm
Giant Screen Theater | Free to the public!

Jaws is a phenomenon. Steven Spielberg's film, based on the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, burst on the scene in the summer of 1976, becoming a major blockbuster, changing the film industry forever, and providing a touchstone in American culture.

Join us as we host a free lecture looking at Steven Spielberg and the making of Jaws, what the film means, and its various interpretations and key scenes, concluding with the movie's cinematic and cultural legacy, as evidenced by its sequels, spin-offs, familiar images and lines, and inspired memes. Jaws remains a milestone in popular culture. Please note: the lecture will not include a viewing of the film.

Kathy Merlock Jackson is a Professor of Communication at Virginia Wesleyan University, where she teaches courses in media studies and children's culture. She is the author of over a hundred articles, chapters, and reviews and has written or edited thirteen books, five of them on Disney-related topics. She is the former long-time editor of The Journal of American Culture and past president of the Popular Culture Association.