Movies are probably not the root of poor science literacy. But they don't help. People do remember the things they saw in movies.
On the one hand, there are many aspects of science that won't fly in a movie. In movies, science labs are beautiful. Real science labs look like a mechanic shop -- spare parts strewn everywhere. Nobody wants to see that in a movie, and nobody is harmed if it's depicted differently.
Still, making a movie at least plausible, though...who is hurt by that? You'd think the writers would at least try, though. Isn't that just good writing?
Slashdot Mirror
Movies are probably not the root of poor science literacy. But they don't help. People do remember the things they saw in movies. On the one hand, there are many aspects of science that won't fly in a movie. In movies, science labs are beautiful. Real science labs look like a mechanic shop -- spare parts strewn everywhere. Nobody wants to see that in a movie, and nobody is harmed if it's depicted differently. Still, making a movie at least plausible, though...who is hurt by that? You'd think the writers would at least try, though. Isn't that just good writing?