Cynthia Chris, author of Watching Wildlife (2006), studies evolving ideas about human and animal behavior. In her book Dr. Chris describes the shift in recent decades from an anthropomorphic framework, where animals in wildlife films are ascribed human traits, to a zoomorphic one, where we apply our understanding of animals to humans.  She is cited in the March 30, 2012 New York Times article “Birds Do It, Bees Do It (Fill Screens)” by Dennis Lim.

Dr. Chris will also be presenting “Species Panic,” a talk with works by Sam Easterson and Isabella Rosellini at the 92YTribeca as part of The Robert Flaherty Film and Seminar Series. The Flaherty is a nonprofit media arts institution recognized as a leader in its support of the documentary and other independent film and video.