Throughout their histories, science and film have been woven together. Film is a medium of communication enabled by scientific research; science is a way of knowing depicted in cinema; and scientific communities use film as a tool of knowledge production. This class explores these entangled histories from film's 19th-c experimental origins through to 21st-c cinematic depictions of scientific ideas. Along the way, we discuss the development of new forms of visualization, the politics of representation, and the power of science and film as means of communications. Weekly assignments include engaging with both textual and filmic sources.
Modern audiences know that scientists and scientific ideas are often depicted at the movies. At the same time film itself is a technology enabled by scientific research, and scientists use film as a tool of research. In short, throughout their histories science and film have been woven together. This class explores these histories from the 19th-century origins of film as an experimental tool of visualization through to 21st-century cinematic depictions of scientific theories and adventure. Along the way, we will keep three major themes in mind: the development of new forms of perception, the politics of representation, and the power of science and film means of communications. Weekly assignments for the course include engaging with both textual and filmic sources.