Are donkeys really like Shrek's pal? This university course answers
What's the story
In a first, The University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, along with the British charity The Donkey's Sanctuary, has launched a one-of-a-kind degree course that studies the representation of donkeys in films.
The course, Scrublands, Sanctuary, Screens: Co-Creating Knowledges alongside Donkeys, will study how films such as Shrek have tried to capture the "inner lives" of these creatures.
It is offered as an elective for film studies undergrads at the university.
Practical learning
Students to observe and record donkey interactions
As part of the course, students will visit The Donkey Sanctuary's main site in Sidmouth, Devon, UK, where they will observe and record their interactions with the animals.
The course also includes an analysis of how donkeys have been portrayed in various films such as The Banshees of Inisherin, Shrek, Jesus of Nazareth, and EO.
The course will explore how donkeys have been personified in animation, fables and fairy tales, religious narratives, and documentaries.
Course objectives
Course aims to contrast real-life and screen portrayals of donkeys
The course seeks to give students a better insight into the disparity between the daily life of donkeys and their on-screen representation.
Traditionally, donkeys have been depicted in human terms like stubborn or funny in movies.
Dr. Fiona Handyside, co-lead for the module at Exeter's Department of Communications, Drama, and Film said this one-of-a-kind module combines the film department's insight with The Sanctuary's holistic care for donkeys.
Expert insights
'It's fantastic to know that a new generation of filmmakers...'
Dr. Faith Burden—Deputy CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary—said she was excited about how this module could positively affect the welfare of donkeys in the film.
She said, "It's fantastic to know that a new generation of filmmakers will have a critical understanding of the link between the way animals are portrayed on-screen and the values we accord them in real life."
This unique module marks the first time The Donkey Sanctuary has collaborated with a humanities faculty at a university.