Scientific Knowledge in the Media - Research Paper Example

 Science in the Media Introduction The media plays an important role in informing, educating and entertaining the populace. In doing this, various media products address specific themes thereby enhancing the spread of particular viewpoints. Such a significant effect of media is prevalent in the media coverage and presentation of science in the modern day world. From studies of such catastrophes and natural phenomena as tsunamis and typhoons to viral diseases and medical concepts such as Ebola, HIV and cloning the media strives to expose their audience to various possibilities of the world. In doing this, both fictional and real media coverage of science strives to portray the significant role of scientific studies and researches in the modern day world as the discussion below portrays. The popular culture has enhanced the presentation of both science and scientists. Movies are a great source of entertainment in the media. The current wave of science fiction film has enhanced the portrayal of scientists and science as an integral feature in the modern society that will influence the future of the world. Such films as 2005’s The Island, the Walking dead and 2013’s World War Z among many others strive to envision the future of the world. The films envision the outbreak of viral diseases and the position of cloning with science and scientists striving to advance their selfish ambitions in some films while others strive to help and safeguard the future of humanity in others. The presentation of both scientists and science is both good and bad depending on the level of conflict that the developers of the films strive to present. However, in most of the films the bad always lose a feature that serves as a basic reminder that good often prevail over evil (Soister, Nicolella & Joyce, 2012). Most of the media contents present scientists in the forms of doctors, weather specialists and engineers who master the art of developing and operating new scientific inventions. Among the basic characteristics of scientists as presented in the media include the fact that they ingenious. Scientists make clever discoveries that they use either in a bad or good way thereby heightening the conflicts in the plots of the stories. The films further present scientists as dedicated individuals who invest most of their time to science and researches. A majority of scientist presented in the media are aged a feature that proves that they have dedicated their time to the study of science. Additionally, the films present scientists as complicated individuals who live weird lives and have unique motivations. Despite their varied portrayal of scientists, the various films among other media products contend that science and scientists are important, play an integral part in the development of the world, and therefore continue to influence the future of the world. As explained earlier, the presentation of both science and scientists by the media influences the society’s image of scientists. For a long time I believed that scientists were doctors and that they were highly ethical individuals whose primary purpose was to better the lives of people in the society. This image of scientists has since changed owing to the varied presentation of doctors among other scientists both in the real and fictional media contents (Summers & Summers, 2015). The case of Henrietta Lacks was an actual occurrence that showed the greed of scientists who prioritize their desire to maximize profitability at the expense of the life of a patient. Several other films including The Island have presented scientists as selfish individuals who will always use their knowledge to maximize profitability. Owing to the presentation of such features by the media, I currently believe that scientists are humans just as any other and therefore have their weaknesses and personal desires most of which compel them to act unethically. Fictional films present scientists as both heroes and villains depending on the nature of the conflict they present. In World War Z for example, Doctor Gerry Lane sets out in a dangerous journey half way around the world in a quest to retrieve a trial drug that promises to cure a zombie pandemic that threatens the future of humanity. The doctor works alongside several other doctors to save the universe from a rapidly spreading infection. However, while the film presents Doctor Lane as a hero who risks his life to save humanity, it also portrays science as a vice since a number of scientists working with the military invented the virus that nearly wiped out humanity. The film therefore shows that science has the potential of threatening humanity but also has the solution to the numerous catastrophes that humans face. As such, the use of science depends on the motives of individual doctors. The Island is yet another science fiction film that presents scientists as villains. In the film, Dr. Merrick runs the Merrick Biotech, a company that clones humans. Apparently, the doctor discovered ways of cloning humans thereby providing a reliable source of healthy body parts for humans. The doctor runs the facility that serves as an insurance for some of the most influential citizens of the world. Human cloning is a highly unethical practice that continues to elicit varied reactions from different parties in the world today. The doctor runs his facility and kills hundreds of clones who are humans in every right. The film presents the science as a vice and the scientists as villain whose desire for money makes him trample on every ethical provision of the practice. Fictional media continue to present science as a positive force that contributes to the betterment of the world. Various science fiction films have unique plots that present the end of the world. However, science offers reliable solutions that promise to safeguard the future of humanity even in the face of some of the worst calamities. Evacuate earth for example is an imaginary program on National Geographic channel that investigates some of the worst catastrophes that may threaten the future of humanity. In the program, the scientists analyses some of the scientific concepts that may lead to the occurrence of such catastrophes as tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and spiraling of the world further from the sun. In the above scenarios, the scientists provide scientific evidence to show the possibility of such occurrences besides provide alternatives for humanity with science remaining pivotal in the survival of humans in such cases. The same is the case with such fictional films as The 100 and Falling skies show science provide ways for humans to survive extermination. Science offers perfect modes of transport, communication and warfare that enables humans to fight aliens as is the case of Falling skies and excellent communication and transport services as is the case of The 100. This shows that science remains an integral aspect of humanity that continues to influence the survival of humans. The portrayal of both science and scientists influences how the society views and interacts with both the profession and the professionals. Despite the negative presentation of science in some of the films, most films maintain that science is a desirable discipline that offers solutions to the problems facing humans in the society today. As such, the society loves science. Millions of students graduate in numerous science based curses in institutions of higher learning throughout the world on an annual basis. Cornea, (2007) explains that this portrays the society’s willingness to foster the growth of science. The society relies on doctors among other scientific researchers who find drugs that help encounter such life threatening diseases as Ebola, AIDS and cancer among many others. The society has since instituted stringent codes of conduct, ethical provisions and even laws to influence the conduct of scientists thereby making the profession safe and scientists ethical individuals who strive to help humanity while limiting their personal interference to the practice. Such are drastic measures that arise from the possibilities of human behavior portrayed by the films. Finally, the portrayal of certain technologies and researches influence the acceptance of such in the society. Cloning for example is has remained a significant scientific discovery that helps better the genes of plants and animals thereby revamping agriculture. Human cloning may possibly have similar effects but the topic remains contentious owing to the role the media plays in presenting the technology (Haran, McNeil & O'Riordan, 2007). The Island embodies the human greed and the level of disregard to operational ethics that scientists may employ in the management of human cloning. Cloning humans has therefore remained a contentious issue that every few people accept owing to such presentations. The church among other organizations continues to oppose human cloning owing to the fact that it would threaten humanity. The church’s decision arises from the possibility of evil presented in the film among others. Conclusion In retrospect, science remains an integral theme in the media with each influencing the growth of the other. Fictional media contents such as films depict science differently depending on the nature of the conflicts developers of such contents envision. Despite the difference in the portrayal of science, the film developers contend that science is an important part of human life that continues to influence the development of the world. The depiction of science in the media influences the society’s acceptance of various scientific researches with human cloning remaining a contentious issue to date owing to the media’s portrayal of the technology. The future of such researches therefore remains bleak with the society limiting the technology in other animals and plants. References Cornea, C. (2007). Science fiction cinema: Between fantasy and reality. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Haran, J., McNeil, M. & O'Riordan, K. (2007). Human Cloning in the Media. New York: Routledge. Soister, J. T., Nicolella, H., & Joyce, S. (2012). American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929. Jefferson: McFarland & amp; Company, Inc., Publishers. Summers, S., & Summers, H. (2015). Saving lives: Why the media's portrayal of nursing puts us all at risk. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press. Read More