The Scientist in Popular Culture: Playing God and Working Wonders

(Hardback)

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Description

In this collection, contributors analyze the depiction of scientists in a wide range of films and television programs that span across genres, including horror, science fiction, crime drama, comedy, and childrens media. Scientists in popular culture, they argue, often embody the hopes and fears associated with real-life science, which continue to be prevalent in both fictional and non-fiction media. By becoming the human face of scientific insight and innovation, the scientist in popular culture plays a key role in encouraging public engagement with scientific ideas. Scholars of media studies, popular culture, and health communication will find this book particularly useful.

Reviews

The Scientist in Popular Culture: Playing God and Working Wonders traces the portrayal of scientist figures in film and TV from the mid-twentieth century to the present. The twelve chapters offer both a very accessible introduction for a general audience and incisive, compelling criticism that engages with vital contemporary issues concerning the dangers and opportunities confronting us in science and technology.

Author Bio

Rebecca Janicker is senior lecturer in film and media studies at the University of Portsmouth.