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Realistic Portrayals of Software Programmers?

Posted by Cliff on from the you're-expecting-THAT-out-Hollywood? dept.

lwbecker2 asks: "Warren Harrison has written a thought-provoking editorial piece on The Software Developer as Movie Icon. He explores the fact that new entrants to Computer Science curriculum are typically clueless about what 'real' developers actually do. While researching the issue of why this is the case, he determined that some potential CS degree seekers are forming opinions from portrayals in movies and cinema. He describes what he asserts to be inaccurate portrayals of developers in War Games, TRON, and The Net, and asks for input and opinions on 'the impact of the cinema and television on new software developers' expectations, as well as learn of any films that do a better job of portraying our profession...' I am sure Slashdot readers have some input on this, and I am curious if people believe _any_ movie has acurately portrayed software developers?"

4 of 866 comments (clear)

  1. Problem is story-telling, not stereotype by CommieLib · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The basic problem is that simple stories require simple characters, and generally, we're not talking Jane Austen where computers are involved.

    Display a computer programmer that works out, or has a family, etc., that takes time out from the CG and explosions. It also confuses the stupid audience that flocks to the picture...

    Having said that, I thought Hugh Jackman's programmer in Swordfish was presented as pretty cool, even the rest of the movie was totally goat.

    --
    If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.
  2. Re:Most Accurate Portrayal of a Computer Award... by tmhsiao · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Of course you're being sarcastic, but that silly looking 3D system was actually an SGI product called fsn, pronounced "fusion," and it ran on IRIX 4.0.1+ machines...

    --
    "My God...It's full of ads!" -Fry, about the Internet, Futurama
  3. Re:Yes there is one... by Teach · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This pretty much nails it, here. Signal 11 said something on Slashdot a couple of years ago regarding this that I saved:

    "Let's face it: the life of a geek is boring. We spend all day in front of our computers checking our e-mail, coding, and sitting on our duff doing 'nothing'. At least to the untrained eye. On the molecular level, however, we are quite busy."

    Couldn't have said it better myself. It's just hard to make this profession look interesting on the big screen.

    --
    Graham "Teach" Mitchell, computer science teacher, Leander HS
  4. Re:office space jokes... by faqBastard · · Score: 3, Interesting

    OK, next question....if the MCP and HAL went head to head, who would win?

    That's a highly irregular question, Dave. :-)

    MCP wins for more spectacular death, HAL wins for more memorable death. Though I guess the Daisy bit wasn't really his death, that came with the whole Jupiter ignition thing...