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• Exigencies: SeaWorld’s biggest issue is Blackfish, and more specifically, activists who believe that the park’s Orcas do not belong in captivity. When the documentary was released, SeaWorld first tried to attack the filmmakers and former SeaWorld employees involved in the movie. This was unappreciated by many as it mimicked the blame put on Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld trainer who was killed by Tilikum, one of the park’s most famous Orcas. SeaWorld has been charged to stop all breeding of captive Orcas and the show must go on with the Orcas currently at the park.
• Audiences: Animal rights activists, OSHA affiliated persons, SeaWorld fans, and many more have influence on the park. SeaWorld chose to ignore the documentary with no comment at first, which many saw as suspicious. A park dedicated to keeping marine animals safe should jump to the defense of their practices.
• Constraints and Assets: SeaWorld’s problem lies in the legitimacy of the documentary. It did not just focus on SeaWorld as a whole, but on Tilikum, a whale that had been through many parks and was known to bite. It was not that SeaWorld was blind to his behaviors, but that they did not care to protect their trainers, staff, guests, and even Tilikum, himself. It appears that they cared most about making money off of Tilikum’s performance.
• Rhetorical Situations: There are risks in anything that deals with wild animals. I believe another issue would be identity. SeaWorld, if it wishes to get back to its’ glory days, will have to find a new identity that focuses on preservation of marine life, not exploitation.