Mainstream Media and Science

1. When you hear the word “scientist” what do you envision? When I hear the word “scientist”, what I picture is an individual conducting practical experiments and also proving theories with the endeavor of advancing the field of science and the world at large.

However, I also picture both aspects of science encompassing the scientists that wish to make the world a better place, for instance, preserving the earth and also advancing scientific theories as well as the scientists that use knowledge for negative purposes such as creating bombs and viruses. 2. Discuss at least three characteristics of your vision of a scientist One of the characteristics of my vision of a scientist is having had formulated and developed a scientific theory that had massive impact.

A second characteristic of a scientist is someone who is extremely smart and intellectual and lastly I consider scientists to be revolutionary. 3. Which famous people or characters from the media come into your mind? What characteristics do they have in common? With the visualization of the term “science”, there are different famous people and characters from the media that come to mind. One of them is Albert Einstein who is considered to be one of the most renowned scientists in the world.

Einstein is celebrated for coming up with the formula relating both mass and energy E = mc2, which is also considered to the most prominent equation in the world. A second character from the media is Stephen Hawking. Hawking is very well known for his advancements in the theory of relativity and in the field of quantum mechanics. He is all the more known for his remarkable battle with ALS that has progressively made him become paralyzed.

Regardless, he continues to be a key figure in the field of science and he communicates using a speech generating device. Third of all, there is Isaac Newtown, who is arguably deemed to be one of the most important scientists of all time. He is largely remembered for the famous theory of the apple falling on his head from a tree and thereby coming up with the theory of gravity.

One of the mutual characteristics amongst them is that they were known to be the first to advance theories that completely chanced the field and the way we view the world. In addition, these are scientists who have had films created about their lives and works. 4. Has your image of what a scientist does and how they look changed over time? If so, how has this changed and what influenced you? My image of what a scientist does and how they look has without doubt changed over time.

Initially, I always pictured scientists to be individuals that only conduct practical experiments within a laboratory. In addition, I initially considered a scientist to be an individual working with nature and the earth. However, this perspective has transformed over the course of time with the knowledge of the existence of theoretical scientists and also those who work on formulas and not necessarily on practical experiments. 5.

Are fictional scientists usually the heroes, villains, or a combination of the two? Provide at least two detailed examples to support your position More often than not, fictional scientists are both the combination of heroes and villains. In fact, it can be perceived that in recent media, the scientists are depicted in just about an entirely positive manner as heroes. There are different examples that can delineate this aspect. One of the scientists portrayed in this manner is Bruce Banner, also referred to as the Incredible Hulk.

On one hand, hulk is portrayed as a smashing beast that is hardly uncontrollable and at the same time there is Banner who has an inclination to assist others. In fact, his change into the violent act came about in a heroic move to save a teen from being impacted by an experimental bomb. Another fictional scientists portrayed in this way is Walter Bishop from the television series, Fringe.

From a positive light, Bishop is depicted as the lead scientist that developed and carried out a portal to a parallel universe, which made it possible to not just travel there but also perceive it. However, on a negative light, Bishop was liable for the demise of his lab assistant (Wired, 2012). 6.

How is science portrayed in fictional media (i.e., television shows, movies, music, books, etc.)? Is it seen as a positive, negative, or neutral force in the world? Give specific examples supporting your position Science is portrayed in functional media as both a positive and negative force in the world. Ranging from television shows to movies to comic books for the children, media portrays science in a constructive and also a destructive manner.

For instance, with regard to television, different shows such as Scorpion, Bones, and CSI portray science in a positive light as the characters use different scientific theories and aspects to solve crime and problems that arise. The key characters in the shows use aspects such as DNA, genes, bone structure and forensics to solve crime. This shows how science can be used to improve the lives of people and the world at large.

On the other hand, shows also portray the negative aspects of science and the manner in which it can be devastating. For instance, in Frankenstein, science is shown to give rise to forces that cannot be controlled with very serious repercussions (Ball, 2017). 7.

Do you think the portrayal of scientists in the various forms of media influences how society views people in this profession? Why, or why not? I believe that the depiction of scientists in the different forms of media impacts the manner in which the society perceives people in the profession. The reason behind this is that media depicts scientists as being nerds, largely crazy and also evil.

Scientists such as Einstein are well acknowledged for being extremely intellectual than the ordinary people and media also portrays scientists as being very smart by making them use scientific jargon, which very few viewers easily understand (Lipps, 1999). 8. Can the portrayal of science in media influence how certain research and technology is.