The Scientist in Popular Culture: Playing God and Working Wonders

In this collection, contributors analyze the depiction of scientists in a wide range of films and television programs that span across genres, including horror, science fiction, crime drama, comedy, and children’s media. Scientists in popular culture, they argue, often embody the hopes and fears associated with real-life science, which continue to be prevalent in both fictional and non-fiction media. By becoming the human face of scientific insight and innovation, the scientist in popular culture plays a key role in encouraging public engagement with scientific ideas. Scholars of media studies, popular culture, and health communication will find this book particularly useful.