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We Believe in Dinosaurs

We Believe in Dinosaurs

2020

Director

Clayton Brown, Monica Long Ross

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Williamstown, Kentucky, is home to the Ark Encounter – a “life-size” creationist museum filled with all of the creatures that traveled in Noah's Ark, including dinosaurs. With incredible access to the park leading up to its opening, the filmmakers expose the larger system behind the creationist movement, piecing together the many factors that have led to the museum presenting its information as historical fact, and the people who are fighting to set the scientific record straight. Amid a climate of science denial and a well-funded corporate behemoth, three Kentuckians (a local geologist, an ex-creationist, and an atheist activist) try their best to challenge the movement that is taking over their home state. Meanwhile, fervent believers work diligently to create the lifelike animatronics that will be on display in the Ark.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.6/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film centers on the ideological conflict between creationism and science. It contains no documented LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing non-heteronormative identities.

Gender Representation

Fair

The documentary maintains a neutral stance regarding gender hierarchies. Agency is distributed among the three central protagonists, whose gender does not limit their pursuit of scientific truth.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The narrative focuses on a localized struggle within Kentucky. There is insufficient evidence to confirm a diverse or non-Anglo-Saxon majority cast within the film.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film provides a strong critique of traditional Western religious institutions. It prioritizes secularism and scientific inquiry over the dogma of a well-funded creationist movement.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The film does not provide visible or central depictions of neurodivergence, physical disabilities, or chronic illness as part of its narrative arc.

Strengths

  • Strong cultural critique of religious institutions and corporate-backed dogma.
  • Prioritizes scientific inquiry and secular frameworks over traditionalist morality.
  • Provides agency to individual 'outsiders' fighting against a monolithic establishment.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and non-heteronormative narratives.
  • Provides no visible depictions of disability, neurodivergence, or chronic illness.
  • Insufficient evidence of racial and ethnic diversity within the localized Kentucky setting.

AI Analysis

We Believe in Dinosaurs is a specialized documentary that prioritizes the deconstruction of religious and corporate hegemony over traditional demographic representation. It functions primarily as an analysis of the friction between systemic belief and empirical truth. The film excels in cultural representation by framing the creationist movement as a systemic challenge to the scientific record. This institutional critique provides a sophisticated look at how dogma interacts with reality. However, the film lacks breadth in standard identity-based metrics. It offers no representation for LGBTQ+ individuals or people with disabilities, and the racial diversity of the cast remains unverified.

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