Zoo

This is Sophie.

Since Monday I have been reflecting on the film, Zoo, that we saw in class.  I have been trying to figure out my own feelings toward the subject, however I think that is still being formed.

I found it interesting in this documentary that the director did not choose to go much into the background of any of these men.  Some of them are married and have seemingly "normal" lives (what is "normal" even?) but enjoy having sexual relations with horses.  From what I understand from this documentary, these men genuinely love these animals in a way that people usually love each other.  they take extremely good care of the animals, and are by no means neglectful or otherwise harmful to these animals.

I wonder, if the director had gone into the backgrounds of these men, if we would have found that they had gone through difficult or abusive childhoods, if they have had difficult times forming bonds with other people, or if they have developed in what is considered a "normal" way.  I wonder this because I am trying to make sense of why people would find loving relationships with non-human animals.  I wonder if they have always had these desires or if they developed in adulthood.

Another aspect of the film that seemed to repeat itself was the importance of the internet.  In our society, the internet provides information into anything and everything, including a way for people who share similar desires to connect with each other.  Although the internet can be very dangerous, I think it is also a tool with which those who feel marginalized and misunderstood can find others who have similar desires to talk with and express themselves in a safer environment than within the more general society.