HPSC1008 Introduction to Science Communication

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HPSC1008 Introduction to Science Communication

• Lecture Six
• Science in Fiction
• Monday 10th November 2008

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Science fiction or fiction about science?

• Two ways of thinking about science and fiction
• Fiction about science
• Recognisable scientific contexts
• Science fiction
• Extrapolates from the known to explore the
  unknowns

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Science fiction as popularisation

• Neither form much studied as a means of science
  communication
• Science fiction tends to be studied for what it
  says about society, not what it says about
  science
• Sci fi often ignored by studies of popularisation
  because it is fiction therefore does not equal
  science
• When it is noticed it is usually described in
  terms of its factual shortcomings
• Or that it promotes false ideas about
  science/promotes unorthodox science

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Scientists and science fiction

• Unwritten rules of popularisation say that
  scientists must act to improve the image of
  science
• If scientists want to be critical of science
  often do it in science fiction
• Leo Szilard - critical of nuclear weapons
• Fred Hoyle - critical of way science is run, and
  advanced certain unorthodox theories in his
  fiction (life from space)
• Science fiction provides a degree of latitude for
  representations of science and society?

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Science fiction - some definitions

• Hard science fiction prides itself on being very
  accurate, but many different ideas about what
  science fiction is, or does
• Robert Heinlein
• ... realistic speculation about possible future
  events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of
  the real world, past and present, and on a
  thorough understanding of the nature and
  significance of the scientific method.
• Arthur C. Clarke not prediction, but what if?
• Alvin Toffler (futurist) sci fi is
• a kind of sociology of the future a
  mind-stretching force for the creation of the
  habit of anticipation.
• Sam Moskowitz (editor) science fiction eases
  the willing suspense of disbelief
• H.G. Wells task of sci fi was to domesticate
  the impossible hypothesis

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Early science fiction

• Science in literature goes back as far as science
• Has tended to be critical of science
• Public sphere being used as a watchdog
• When all is well no need to comment
• Provided a sense of the relationship between
  science and society at the time of writing
• E.g. Early Royal Society and BAAS mocked in
  Dickens (Mudfog Papers) and Gullivers Travels
• and about our expectations/concerns for the
  future at the time of writing
• New ideas explored. E.g. cloning, nuclear physics

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Mary Shelleys Frankenstein (1818)

• Classic example of early science fiction
• About a scientist who cuts himself off from
  society
• Abandons feelings and relationships
• Will achieve his science whatever the costs
• Classic playing God cautionary tale
• Become a recurring theme and explanatory myth for
  new science and technology
• See Turney, J. (1998) Frankensteins Footsteps

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Representations of scientists in fiction

• Haynes has identified 7 recurring representations
  of scientists within science fiction literature
  and film
• What we call the stereotype
• Just because it is a stereotype doesnt mean it
  doesnt tell us something.
• Often see combinations of several.
• See Rosslyn Haynes, 2003, From Alchemy to
  Artificial Intelligence Stereotypes of the
  Scientist in Western Literature Public
  Understanding of Science

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The Evil Alchemist

• Messes with nature for own gain, invents monsters
• E.g. Dr Frankenstein, Dr Faustus, Dr Jekyll

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The Noble Scientist

• The Hero or Saviour
• Often restores chaos to equilibrium
• Has the scientific knowledge and skills to stop
  disaster

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The Foolish Scientist

• The scientist who is obsessed with trivia or
  gimmicks,
• Or the absent minded genius
• A very common stereotype

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The inhuman researcher

• Knowledge before values
• Divorced from the social, emotional, and cultural
  norms
• Again Dr Frankenstein

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The Adventurer Scientist

• E.g. Spacemen
• Indiana Jones
• Jules Vernes Captain Nemo
• Star Treks Spock

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The Mad, Bad and Dangerous Scientist

• Common after WWII
• Idea that a scientist could do a lot of damage,
  endanger the world
• E.g. Atomic warfare
• E.g. Dr Strangelove
• Bond Villains

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The Helpless Scientist

• Inventions go out of control
• Unleashes something by accident
• E.g. nutty professor
• Flubber

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What are stereotypes for?

• Haynes argues
• Serve as a cultural shorthand
• We dont take literally, but we collectively
  recognise them
• Are part of the continuing folklore
• Appear simple but represent complex ideas,
  feelings concerns etc
• Very consistent historically
• Also very difficult to contradict, extract or
  uproot
• What is it about fiction that means it relies on
  these?

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Fringe (2008)
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Silverstones Narrative Frameworks

• Mythic Narrative
• Stories
• Feelings
• Metaphor
• Images
• Symbols
• Cultural resonances
• Dramatisation, entertainment, power, fantasy
• MASS MEDIA
• e.g. film, fiction

• Mimetic Narrative
• Content
• Truths
• Representations of fact
• Words
• Information
• Argument
• Literalness
• Clarity
• SPECIALISED
• COMMUNICATION
• e.g. science communication

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Science in Film

• Edison Studios made silent Frankenstein film in
  1910
• James Whales Frankenstein, 1931
• Spent 250,000
• Made 12m
• Showed the commercial appeal of horror to mass
  audiences
• Example of film as a cultural amplifier
• Middle class audience of the novel replaced by
  mass audience
• Films need to speak in terms anyone/everyone can
  relate to

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The standard (mythic) horror narrative

• Start with a nice ordinary situation
• Instability introduced
• Instability removed
• Stability restored
• (from an analysis of over 900 horror movies in
  UK screened between 1931 - 1984)
• Classic theme Scientist or scientific knowledge
  he has is cause of the instability

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Science in Film II

• Early twentieth century the mad german scientist
  very common
• In pre-war films the scientist was the cause of
  the instability, due to a moral failing, had
  abdicated his humanity
• Doctors only type of scientist who was still
  seen as moral
• Fed into debate about socialised medicine in US
• Post-war, the scientist seen outside of the lab,
  working for government
• Where was the place of the scientist after the
  war?

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The scientist as outsider

• Often depiction of scientist displayed social
  tensions over role in society at time
• Dresses differently, acts differently
• Different social norms
• Like any outsider figure
• Scapegoat for social ills
• Figure of fun
• Possibly saviour
• Main message - scientists are different

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Sci fi films as indicators of current concerns
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The 1950s

• Invasion narrative, or unwitting disaster
• Side effects of science
• E.g. The Fly (1958)
• New variation of the Frankenstein myth
• Radiation causes problems now
• Technology causes the disaster

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Concerns about new technologies in film
Spider-man The Movie (2002) Bite of a genetically
modified spider
Amazing Spider-Man (1962) Bite of a radioactive
spider
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The 1960s onwards

• Since 1960s science less prominent as basis for
  horror in films
• More about supernatural threats
• Can often see the historical phases of technology
  reflected in these
• More science fiction films about different
  technologies in their own right

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The rise of the machinesfor better and worse?
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1990s and the birth of the internet
a new kind of Frankensteins Monster?
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The 1990s and the new genetics
Concerns over playing god?
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Jurassic Park and PUS

• Scientists were rather annoyed by Jurassic Park
• Said it was overdramatic, violent, made science
  look scary
• Science was inaccurate
• Sound familiar?
• Crichtons response Its only a movie!
• Its there to entertain, why should science be
  accurate, its science fiction.
• So should science on film be accurate?
• As a medium, is more mythic than mimetic
• Deals in stereotypes, cultural shorthands, not
  just about science, but about everything
• If you want the facts.go read the book?

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Jurassic Park (1993)

• Author Michael Crichton
• provide a serious warning about the dangers of
  commercialising molecular biology
• the most stunning ethical event in the history
  of science
• Same old narrative though
• Updated commentary from mathematician about the
  unpredicability of messing with nature

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Representations of science in other popular media
The comic bookvery similar narratives and
representations
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Research Task - Week 6

• Review of a feature film you have seen recently
• Not just tell me the story
• Think about
• The narrative of science
• How is the scientist portrayed? (Think Haynes)
• Can we say anything about what might have been
  going on in society at the point it was made?
• can set up a viewing maybe if you want?