Ask almost anyone who has seen Jaws what impact it had on their view of sharks and you’ll get the same answer – it made them think twice about swimming in the sea.  The thought of that large, predatory fish armed with a mouth full of razor-like teeth swimming off our shores fills many people with fear and horror – so much so that the worst sufferers of shark phobia – known as selachophobia – are unable to take baths for fear that they will be eaten.

Is Jaws responsible for these fears? There’s no doubt that widespread fear of sharks is a relatively recent phenomenon that was fuelled to a significant extent by the release of Spielberg’s film in 1975.  The shocking depictions of attacks and John William’s memorable, ominous score triggered a wave of hysteria and mindless revenge killings of sharks across the world. But until the early 20th century, sharks were largely unknown to the public; recreational bathing in the sea was considered an eccentric habit in western countries and very few people had ever seen a live shark.
Myths about sharks have been an important part of many cultures around the world for centuries. A vase found in Italy, dated at about 725 B.C, depicts a man being seized by a giant fish, the first known western representation of a shark attack; and there have been many artistic and literary depictions of shark attacks since then. Some experts even think that the Bible’s story about Jonah was originally based on a great white shark rather than a whale.

Jaws brought these stories to life for millions of people around the world, reminding them that there really are terrors lurking in our oceans. Unlike classic horror films, whose power to shock is largely based on imagination, Jaws was based on reality. While the fish that terrorised Amity Island never actually existed, the 17-foot, 4,550-pound great white shark that inspired Peter Benchley’s original story certainly did.