반려동물 영화에 나타난 종교적 상징성과 동물 복지의 윤리 문제 고찰 = Religious Symbolism and Ethical Issues of Animal Welfare in Companion Animal Films

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In contemporary society, companion animals have established themselves as emotional partners, therapeutic beings, and integral members of the family.
Accordingly, significant shifts have occurred in pet culture, legal systems, and media representations. Films featuring companion animals function as cultural narratives that illuminate the relationship between humans and animals, while embedding religious symbolism and ethical discourse. These films also serve as mediators that reflect and shape societal perceptions. This study analyzes how the relationship between humans and animals is represented in four selected films: <Hachico’s Story>(Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale), <A Street Cat Named Bob>, <Mr. Cat>(Nine Lives), and <Baily Again>(A Dog’s Purpose). These films emphasize the symbolic significance of companion animals by incorporating mythological motifs such as loyalty, sacrifice, destiny, and reincarnation.
However, they are often constructed from an anthropocentric perspective, limiting the agency of the animals and posing the risk of reducing them to objects that fulfill human emotional and existential needs. This raises critical ethical concerns regarding animal welfare and bioethics. Furthermore, the study explores how companion animal films reflect broader changes in pet culture. By engaging with contemporary ethical issues—such as pet humanization, animal abandonment, and pet loss syndrome—these films function as cultural tools that examine modes of coexistence and the responsibility between humans and animals. By analyzing the mythological symbols and ethical implications embedded in these films, the study aims to reconstruct the human-animal relationship and explore new directions for ethical practice. In a time when companion animal culture is rapidly expanding, pet-related films go beyond mere entertainment to provoke ethical reflection and contribute to redefining the values and directionality of coexistence between humans and animals.