Entertainment Media Portrayals and Their Effects on the Public Understanding of Science
- Matthew C. Nisbet*Matthew C. Nisbet*E-mail: [email protected]School of Communication, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016Department of Advertising & Public Relations, The University of Texas at Austin, Belo Center for New Media, 300 W. Dean Keeton (A1200), Austin, Texas 78712More by Matthew C. Nisbet
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- Anthony DudoAnthony DudoSchool of Communication, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016Department of Advertising & Public Relations, The University of Texas at Austin, Belo Center for New Media, 300 W. Dean Keeton (A1200), Austin, Texas 78712More by Anthony Dudo
Abstract
For decades members of the scientific community have lamented the state of entertainment media, which they often assume portrays science and scientists negatively and creates public animosity toward science. In this chapter, we review research that provides important context for these longstanding concerns. We first discuss research examining patterns in Hollywood portrayals of scientists and science, which suggest that over the past decade there has been a trend toward ever more positive “hero” portrayals of scientists. We then review research examining the contributions of entertainment media to perceptions of science, highlighting their potential to reinforce beliefs in the promise of science and support for controversial areas of research.