Hierarchies In Monkey Kingdom

Disney’s 2015 documentary film Monkey Kingdom exceeds entertainment, but instead provides a profound insight on the intricate connections that exist between humans and chimpanzees. The film steps into an immersive world created by disney’s cinematographers, revealing the similarities between the two species' shared experiences and evolutionary ties. The film provides 82 minutes of cinematography of chimpanzees in their natural habitat; captivating the world inside a “Monkey Kingdom.” Amidst the captivating landscapes and compelling narratives of the documentary, the film presents three fundamental connections humans and chimpanzees have; the complexities of social structures, complex hierarchies, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Through exploring

The documentary provides compelling evidence of the power dynamics and social rankings within the monkey kingdom that shape the lives of the chimpanzees. Through the experiences of Maya and her fellow chimpanzees, viewers witness vivid examples of hierarchical systems that have integrated themselves into the species' daily lives. For instance, the film captures intense displays of dominance, as higher-ranking chimpanzees, Raja and the sisterhood, assert their authority through aggressive posturing, cruel acts, and physical altercations. Because Raja and the sisterhood are of higher status than Maya in the beginning of the film, she is expected to groom them with nothing in return. The sleeping arrangements in the film are further evidence of hierarchical structure within the kingdom. Higher status chimpanzees sleep in the tall branches of the trees in the kingdom for protection while the lower status are expected to sleep near the ground, in reach of predators. Raja sleeps highest in the trees, as he is the dominant male. Males are seen as more threatening and dominant within the chimpanzees society, just as men are typically viewed as more respectable in human society. While hierarchies within the chimpanzee community are seemingly more evident than those in human societies, the underlying principles of social organization resonate between the species. Humans also have tendencies to establish hierarchical structures within various social contexts. Educational institutions, social class, corporate settings, or political systems are all prominent examples of hierarchies within human societies. A chimpanzee gains a hierarchical position within society when they are born with a red face, or are the strongest, most dominant male within the community. While in human societies, individuals gain these positions through knowledge, experience, age,