Dinosaur Media, Art and Pop Culture

Roaring through Time: Dinosaurs, the awe-inspiring giants of the past, have captured the human imagination for centuries. From the majestic illustrations of the 19th century to the spectacular blockbusters of today, dinosaurs have been a recurring theme in art and popular culture.

In this article, we embark on a journey through time to explore how dinosaurs have been depicted in art and media, shaping our understanding and fascination with these prehistoric creatures.

Dinosaurs in Art: A Journey through Eras:

Early Illustrations and Reconstructions:
The first depictions of dinosaurs were often speculative and fantastical:

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

Life-sized sculptures in the 1850s aimed to bring dinosaurs to life, though inaccuracies were common.

This amazing piece of UK Victorian history shows a glimpse of how we thought of the Dinosaurs before modern discoveries, both in physical fossils and trackways found and through science in general, not to mention good old thought experiments.

If you’re in the UK or visiting it’s worth a look! Here’s the address of the venue (it’s usually free):

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, Thicket Rd, London SE20

Check Out Crystal Palace Dinosaur Park Here

Knight’s Illustrations

Charles R. Knight’s paintings in the early 20th century aimed for realism, based on the scientific understanding of the time.

Much like with the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, you can really see how we used to picture how Dinosaurs and other prehistoric life lived and moved back in these times.

I’m sure there have been countless Palaeontologists and Palaeoartists inspired by Charles R Knight from when he was still painting right up to now.

Check out More on Charles R Knight Here

Modern Paleoart: A Fusion of Science and Imagination:
Advances in paleontology have led to more accurate depictions:

• Scientific Accuracy: Artists collaborate with paleontologists to portray dinosaurs based on the latest findings.
• Feathered Dinosaurs: The discovery of feathered dinosaurs transformed our understanding of their appearance.
• Tail and Locomotive Physics: If you look at how Dinosaur tails have been depicted through the ages, you can see a remarkable difference in posture, and with current understanding of Dinosaur physiology combined with newer findings, it makes sense how tail theories have moved on.
• Swampy Sauropods: It was long thought that sauropods such as Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, Apatosaurus, etc must have lived in water to be able to move their sheer bulk. Having nostrils on top of a head at the end of an enormously long neck seemed to back it up! But with modern computers helping run the numbers, we now know that these huge herbivores were almost entirely terrestrial.

Dinosaurs in Media: Roaring on the Big and Small Screens:

Movies and TV Shows:
Dinosaurs have been stars on the silver screen for decades:

• Jurassic Park: Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film revolutionized dinosaur portrayals with lifelike CGI and animatronics.

Starting with an ambitious, thought-provoking novel by Michael Chrichton, the Jurassic Park series has spawned two trilogies, Jurassic Park, the Lost World and Jurassic Park 3, and the Jurassic World series: Jurassic World, Fallen Kingdom and Dominion. Plus comics, a sequel novel by the same author (Lost World, which the second movie was loosely based on) and now several TV series of Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous. The Jurassic Park franchise, although not having a Star Wars-type fanbase, has inspired generations for the last 30 years!

• Walking with Dinosaurs: This documentary series combined computer animation and live-action to create realistic depictions of prehistoric life.

This groundbreaking TV series by the BBC was an amazingly realistic blend of CGI and puppetry, lent credibility by being framed as a nature series, as if filmed in real life. I remember wearing the DVD’s out on this series when it was first released…

Books and Literature:

Dinosaurs have been a popular subject in literature, both fiction and non-fiction:

• Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton): As above, the novel that inspired the film explores the ethical implications of reviving dinosaurs through genetic engineering. It wasn’t just about the dinosaurs, which made it all the more enjoyable. It was about human hubris, chaos theory, and scientific & capitalist arrogance.
• The Dinosaur Heresies (Robert Bakker): This book challenged traditional views of dinosaur physiology and behavior. You may recognise Robert Bakker’s name as he has been a long established Palaeontologist.

Dinosaurs in Video Games: Interactive Paleontological Adventures:

Educational Games:
Video games have become a platform for learning about dinosaurs:

• Dino Digs: Players simulate archaeological digs and learn about different dinosaur species.
• Saurian: An accurate survival game that immerses players in the Late Cretaceous ecosystem.

Adventure and Entertainment:
Dinosaurs are also central to action-packed video games:

• Turok: A series of first-person shooters featuring a Native American warrior battling dinosaurs and other enemies.
• ARK: Survival Evolved: Players survive on an island teeming with dinosaurs, taming and using them in gameplay.
• Dino Crisis: A classic survival horror game from the creators of Resident Evil.
• Jurassic World Alive:
• Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis:
• Jurassic World Evolution/ Jurassic World Evolution 2:

A Timeless Roar

Dinosaur art and pop culture have evolved in tandem with scientific discoveries, reflecting our changing understanding of these incredible creatures. From early speculative drawings to cutting-edge CGI, the depictions of dinosaurs have evolved to capture the marvel of their existence. Through movies, books, TV shows, and video games, dinosaurs have continued to captivate audiences of all ages, inviting us to explore the realms of the past and embark on thrilling adventures. As we immerse ourselves in their world, dinosaurs remind us of the enduring power of imagination and curiosity.