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Movies, Science, and the End of the World
Columbia University Press
November 2007
On Sale: November 20, 2007
272 pages
ISBN: 0231142803
EAN: 9780231142809
Hardcover
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Non-Fiction
Whether depicting humans battling aliens or a brave
geologist saving lives as a volcano erupts, science-fiction
films are an exciting visual and sensuous introduction to
the workings of science and technology. These films explore
a range of complex topics in vivid and accessible ways, from
space travel and laser technology to genetic engineering,
global warming, and the consequences of nuclear weaponry.
Though actual scientific lab work might not be as exciting,
science fiction is an engaging yet powerful way for a wide
audience to explore some of the most pressing issues and
ideas of our time. In this book, a scientist and dedicated film enthusiast
discusses the portrayal of science in more than one hundred
films, including science fiction, scientific biographies,
and documentaries. Beginning with early films like Voyage to
the Moon and Metropolis and concluding with more recent
offerings like The Matrix, War of the Worlds, A Beautiful
Mind, and An Inconvenient Truth, Sidney Perkowitz questions
how much faith we can put into Hollywood's depiction of
scientists and their work; how accurately these films
capture scientific fact and theory; whether cataclysms like
our collision with a comet can actually happen; and to what
extent these films influence public opinion about science
and the future. Movies, especially science-fiction films, temporarily remove
viewers from the world as they know it and show them the
world as it might be, providing special perspective on human
nature and society. Yet "Hollywood science" can be
erroneous, distorting fact for dramatic effect and
stereotyping scientists as remote and nerdy, evil, or noble,
doing little to improve the relationship between science and
society. Bringing together history, scientific theory, and
humorous observation, Hollywood Science features dozens of
film stills and a list of the all-time best and worst
science-fiction movies. Just as this genre appeals to all
types of viewers, this book will resonate with anyone who
has been inspired by science-fiction films and would like to
learn how fantasy compares to fact.
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