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Can you hear it? Two notes, E and F, played by a solo cello. Dun. Dun Dun. Dun Dun. Dundun. Dundun. Dundun. Dundun dundun. Did you get a tingle down your spine just then?
Most of us have felt varying degrees of terror (or thrills) at those sounds for the last 50 years.
Jaws became what many film historians have called the first big summer blockbuster movie, playing to nonstop crowds at the Strand Theater in Oak Bluffs, and theaters across America in the summer of 1975. Notably, Spielberg created fear and suspense while rarely actually showing the shark (turns out that was because Bruce, the shark machine, didnโt often behave for the filmmakers). Because even the idea of a 25-foot shark seeking dinner and revenge was scary (and the music helped). Jaws set off a furious few years of shark hunting, enough so that both Peter Benchley and Steven Spielberg expressed regrets for demonizing great white sharks in the movie.
Jaws also inspired careers โ including that of biologist Greg Skomal. Read about Gregโs work studying and protecting sharks on page 40.
We have lots more critters in this issue โ stranded sea turtles (saved!), migrating birds, and an essay by Luanne Johnson about how to love โunloveableโ (that is, scary, stinky, slithery) creatures.
Thank you to our readers, contributors, and supporters while we celebrate our fourth anniversary on Marthaโs Vineyard. These days, we believe itโs more important than ever to inform and inspire readers with stories about people doing innovative things to address climate change (and just regular everyday tricks to help us live more sustainably.) If youโd like to contribute and help us keep bringing you these stories, visit our website.
(Thank you!)
Oh, one more thing: Weโd love to hear about any home projects you have going on โ solar panels? Geothermal? New sustainable porch furniture or decking? At-home composting? Write us below!ย
Have a great spring.
โ Jamie Kageleiry (and Britt Bowker)
