Hollywood Science: Art, Science, and Film Representation

COURSE OBJECTIVE
The aim of the course is to explore the relationship between science, literature and art. The course will explore how this relationship is depicted in popular culture with a focus on cinema and film representation. Students will become familiar with a range of cultural theories that underpin a critical study of the function of science in society. Students will be able to analyze texts from an integrated perspective using concepts from natural science, philosophy and social sciences to understand the connections between the academic disciplines and their often overlooked complementary developments.

COURSE CONTENT
An analysis of texts from visual media and literature that explore the interaction between scientific developments and how these were both inspired by and interpreted through artistic production from the Enlightenment to the present day. The course will explore how a number of specially selected texts challenged the established ideas of what 'science' is and how significant scientific breakthroughs (in chemistry, computing, medicine, mathematics, etc.) were represented through culture for the general public. We will look at questions such as: How is science understood in the public domain? Does Art play a special role as an experimental space in which new ideas and values find their expression? What relationship is there between literature and science?

TEACHING METHODS
Lecture series

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
Participation in end of course Symposium (50%) and Independent Project (50%). You are required to pass both elements of the course with a 5.5 minimum.