Late 1800s: Perception of Gorillas

Socially deemed 'normal' dress of middle class Victorians.

Julia Pastrana, a woman of Mexican descent that participated in shows to demonstrate her abnormal hair growth. She was believed by some to personify the missing link between humans and gorillas. Here she is shown in traditional Victorian dress.

In contrast, a male counterpart of Julia Pastrana was Zip the Pinhead. Here he is shown in dress to exemplify his perceived ape-like characteristics.

The World War Era: The Public's Perception of Primates

The original King Kong film (1933) demonstrates the public hostility toward primates. The gorilla was illustrated as a giant kidnapper.

This war propaganda likens gorillas to the German military force. The gorilla is shown in a highly aggressive, destructive nature designed to evoke fear in the American public. This advertisement demonstrates the power that primate images were able to wield.

Current Usage of Primates in Popular Media

This 1971 American Tourister commercial demonstrates the strength of its luggage by using the perceived notion of the power and destructive nature of gorillas. This caged gorilla is unable to destroy the luggage.






This Amp-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. commercial illustrates the public's perceived notion of the incredible strength and power of gorillas. The ability for Mr. Earnhardt to push around a gorilla demonstrates the capabilities of Amp to provide energy.







This 2007 Cadbury commercial likens gorillas to humans by showing the subject to have musical talents by playing the drums to Phil Collins' hit "In the Air Tonight".






This Budweiser advertisement shows a gorilla to have cravings for beer -- a perceived masculine human desire. This commercial demonstrates the use of gorillas to target the male audience.