Die Chemie in Spielfilmen, Cartoons und Kinderzeichnungen

Material aus der Untersuchung „Perception and Representation of Science by Hollywood“, Universität

Bielefeld 2000 – 2002; Dissertation von Luz Maria Hernandez Nieto: What do

cartoons tell children about science? Universität Bielefeld December 2014

Paola Rodari, Science and scientists in the drawings of European children, JCOM 6 (3), September 2007

Which Disciplines are Popular in the Movies?

58

36

30 30

2018 17 16 16 16

12 129 8 8 7 6

42 2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70m

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earc

hph

ysics

chem

istry

psyc

holog

ybi

ology

gene

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liter

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uman

ities

anth

ropo

logy

astro

nom

yzo

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met

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/ ph

arm

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tics

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abso

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Aus: Paola Rodari , Science and scientists in the drawings of European children SISSA – International School for Advanced Studies , Journal of Science Communication

The Setting of Chemistry in Fiction Film

• At home (42%) • Outdoors/ in the field (16%) • At a university (16%) • In a governmental facility (12%) • In a private company (9%)

The Secret Show , Professor Professor‘s lab

Secrecy and Adventure - Settings of Scientific Work by Field

0

5

10

15

20

25

anthropology astronomy chemistry genetics medicalresearch

physics psychology zoology biology literature /humanities

scientific disciplines

sett

ings

of

scie

nce

outdoors / in the field at home at a university in a governmental facility in hospital miscellaneous

Secrecy of research by field

Discovery/invention is kept secret from the public: • Robotics: 85,7% • Chemistry: 73,5% • Genetics: 66,7% • Physics: 66.6% • Medical Research: 55,2%

How Knowledge is Gained

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

medicalresearch

physics chemistry psychology biology zoology anthropology astronomy genetics literature /humanities

scientific disciplines

abso

lute

fre

quen

cies

of

gain

ing

know

ledg

e

through genious experimentation on living objects field research / expeditionby accident miscellaneous

Dangerous discovery/invention

yes, intentionally

yes, but not intentionally

not dangerous

Victims generated by discovery/invention

The scientist himself (30%)

The colleague/s, assistant/s (20%)

Opponent, critics (13%)

Uninvolved people (53%)

(multiple answers possible)

Good or Bad... – Relation to Ethical Values by Field

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

anthropology astronomy chemistry genetics medicalresearch

physics psychology zoology biology literature /humanities

scientific disciplines

ethi

cal v

alue

s

it enhanches it defends it undermines it comes in conflict it does not concern them at all

Chemistry concerns ethical values

it doesn‘t concern

it comes in conflict it undermines

it defends

it enhances

frequ

ency

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Scientific misconduct by discipline

• % of films depicting misconduct: • 70% - 80%: chemistry, genetics, pathology • 60% - 70%: medical research, biology,

computer sciences • 10% - 20%: literature, humanities

Factual status of the scientific field

fictional level of development

fictional scientific field

non fictional scientific field

Importance of chemistry/ chemists to the plot

is of marginal relevance to the plot

belongs to sub-plot

belongs to main string of action

essential for main string of action

perc

ent

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10 0 7

13 13

67

Story meant to be plausible/authentic

no efforts are made to make the film scientifically authentic

yes, the science / technology is explained

yes, experiments take place before the audience

yes, reputation of the scientist indicates that the story could be true

yes, science takes place in scientific surrounding (i.e. laboratories)

no (ie. satires, comedies)

Do films depict non-fictional technology?

yes, it is developed further to a fictional state of development

yes, but not to explain

yes, it is used as part of the explanation for fictional scientific technology

no technology no realistic technology

perc

ent

50

40

30

20

10

0

Films show that scientists...

missing

don't know the truth

know the truth

Chemistry by Genre

Action (4,4%) Adventure (3,3%) Animation (3,3%) Comedy (13,3%) Crime (4,4%) Drama (8,8%) Family (4,4%) Fantasy (0%) Film-Noir (0%) Horror (24,4%) Musical (0%) Mystery (2,2%) Romance (0%) Science-Fiction (8,8%)

Satire (0%) Thriller (13,3%) War (3,3%) Western (0%)

Preoccupation with the past - alchemy

• The Hallucinated Alchemist (1897, USA) • The Clown and the Alchemist (1900, USA) • The Alchemist (1913, USA) • Homunculus (1916, Germany) • Der Alchimist (1918, Germany) • The Alchemist’s Hourglass (1936, USA) • Alchimie (1952, France) • Une Alchimie (1966, Belgium) • Alchimisten (1968, GDR) • Alchemik (1990, Poland) • Des alchimistes / Alchemists (1991, Canada) • Alchemy (1997, USA, TV)

I Got a Rocket, Professor Q

Pat and Stan, Profesor Chi-chi (in German: Prof. Zweistein)

Pat and Stan, Profesor Chi-chi‘s laboratory (in German: Prof. Zweistein)

The League of Super Evil, Dr. Frogg‘s laboratory (In German: Dr. Schrott)

George of the Jungle, Dr. Towel Scott

George of the Jungle, Dr. Towel Scott