Hollywood Science

Author : Sidney Perkowitz
Publisher : Columbia University Press
Page : 269 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2010-02-22
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780231142816

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Hollywood Science by Sidney Perkowitz Pdf

In this book, a scientist and dedicated film enthusiast discusses the portrayal of science in more than one hundred films, including science fiction, scientific biographies, and documentaries. Beginning with early films like Voyage to the Moon and Metropolis and concluding with more recent offerings like The Matrix, War of the Worlds, A Beautiful Mind, and An Inconvenient Truth, Sidney Perkowitz questions how much faith we can put into Hollywood's depiction of scientists and their work, how accurately these films capture scientific fact and theory, whether cataclysms like our collision with a comet can actually happen, and to what extent these films influence public opinion about science and the future. Bringing together history, scientific theory, and humorous observation, Hollywood Science features dozens of film stills and a list of the all-time best and worst science-fiction movies.

Author : David A. Kirby
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 280 pages
File Size : 42,7 Mb
Release : 2011-02-04
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780262294867

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Lab Coats in Hollywood by David A. Kirby Pdf

How science consultants make movie science plausible, in films ranging from 2001: A Space Odyssey to Finding Nemo. Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, released in 1968, is perhaps the most scientifically accurate film ever produced. The film presented such a plausible, realistic vision of space flight that many moon hoax proponents believe that Kubrick staged the 1969 moon landing using the same studios and techniques. Kubrick's scientific verisimilitude in 2001 came courtesy of his science consultants—including two former NASA scientists—and the more than sixty-five companies, research organizations, and government agencies that offered technical advice. Although most filmmakers don't consult experts as extensively as Kubrick did, films ranging from A Beautiful Mind and Contact to Finding Nemo and The Hulk have achieved some degree of scientific credibility because of science consultants. In Lab Coats in Hollywood, David Kirby examines the interaction of science and cinema: how science consultants make movie science plausible, how filmmakers negotiate scientific accuracy within production constraints, and how movies affect popular perceptions of science. Drawing on interviews and archival material, Kirby examines such science consulting tasks as fact checking and shaping visual iconography. Kirby finds that cinema can influence science as well: Depictions of science in popular films can promote research agendas, stimulate technological development, and even stir citizens into political action.

Author : Stephen Trinder
Publisher : Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Page : 185 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2019-12-18
Category : History
ISBN : 9781527544635

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Critical Perspectives on Hollywood Science Fiction by Stephen Trinder Pdf

The 2003 invasion of Iraq and the global recession of 2008 have contributed heavily to popular criticism of neoliberalism. This book investigates James Cameron’s Avatar (2009), Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 (2009) and Elysium (2013), Len Wiseman’s Total Recall (2012) and the Wachowskis’ and Tom Tykwer’s independent epic Cloud Atlas (2012) to examine how far this model is critically interrogated in science fiction cinema. The subject is a critical one upon reflection of the role that a heavily ingrained allegiance to neoliberal and colonial discourse in mainstream politics and media has played in the rise of populist right-wing politics, growing worldwide income inequality, and, in particular, cultivating racist attitudes towards the Other.

Author : Evdokia Stefanopoulou
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Page : 241 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2023-07-27
Category : Performing Arts
ISBN : 9781501380211

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The Science Fiction Film in Contemporary Hollywood by Evdokia Stefanopoulou Pdf

The Science Fiction Film in Contemporary Hollywood focuses on the American science fiction (SF) film during the period 2001-2020, in order to provide a theoretical mapping of the genre in the context of Conglomerate Hollywood. Using a social semiotics approach in a systematic corpus of films, the book argues that the SF film can be delineated by two semiotic squares -the first one centering on the genre's more-than-human ontologies (SF bodies), and the second one focusing on its imaginative worlds (SF worlds). Based on this theoretical framework, the book examines the genre in six cycles, which are placed in their historical context, and are analyzed in relation to cultural discourses, such as technological embodiment, race, animal-human relations, environmentalism, global capitalism, and the techno-scientific Empire. By considering these cycles -which include superhero films, creature films, space operas, among others-as expressions of the genre's basic oppositions, the book facilitates the comparison and juxtaposition of films that have rarely been discussed in tandem, offering a new perspective on the multiple articulations of the SF film in the new millennium.

Author : Donna J. Nelson,Robert Grazier,Jaime Paglia,Sidney Perkowitz
Publisher : ACS Symposium
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 2013
Category : Performing Arts
ISBN : 0841228248

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Hollywood Chemistry by Donna J. Nelson,Robert Grazier,Jaime Paglia,Sidney Perkowitz Pdf

Hollywood and science have found each other, and seem to have formed the strongest bond to date. The increasing use of science consultants in science fiction and science-themed productions, from comedies like The Big Bang Theory to dramas like Breaking Bad, as well as the creation of the Science and Entertainment Exchange by the National Academy of Sciences, suggests a new level of Interaction between science and entertainment media that will surely benefit both sides. What finally catalyzed this reaction? This eclectic collection of essays examines the connections between Hollywood and science, with a primary focus on the current state of the relationship. It features contributions from screenwriters, producers, directors, scientists, science advisors, science writers, even a music composer and a dramaturge. The formats of the chapters contained herein are equally eclectic: some take the form of academic journal articles, some are written as less formal interviews, and some are narratives. The tones of the offerings range from the purely serious to the comedic. The first half of the book focuses on the various approaches that different television series and moves employ to incorporate accurate science into their productions. In other instances, authors explore the more fundamental aspects of science-like sound, music, and light-that enable audiences to appreciate television and film. The second half of the volume explores the effects that television and film have on the viewing public. Some authors explain the science, both explicit and implied, that can be found within various Hollywood productions, and explore instances where Hollywood and science failed to click, instead of meshing. Other authors examine the influence that Hollywood science has on the science community, public policy, and the legal system. Still others describe pedagogical applications of television and movie science to education-as well as Hollywood's role in motivating future generations of scientists and engineers.

Author : David A. Kirby
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 281 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2013-02-08
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780262518703

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Lab Coats in Hollywood by David A. Kirby Pdf

How science consultants make movie science plausible, in films ranging from 2001: A Space Odyssey to Finding Nemo. Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, released in 1968, is perhaps the most scientifically accurate film ever produced. The film presented such a plausible, realistic vision of space flight that many moon hoax proponents believe that Kubrick staged the 1969 moon landing using the same studios and techniques. Kubrick's scientific verisimilitude in 2001 came courtesy of his science consultants—including two former NASA scientists—and the more than sixty-five companies, research organizations, and government agencies that offered technical advice. Although most filmmakers don't consult experts as extensively as Kubrick did, films ranging from A Beautiful Mind and Contact to Finding Nemo and The Hulk have achieved some degree of scientific credibility because of science consultants. In Lab Coats in Hollywood, David Kirby examines the interaction of science and cinema: how science consultants make movie science plausible, how filmmakers negotiate scientific accuracy within production constraints, and how movies affect popular perceptions of science. Drawing on interviews and archival material, Kirby examines such science consulting tasks as fact checking and shaping visual iconography. Kirby finds that cinema can influence science as well: Depictions of science in popular films can promote research agendas, stimulate technological development, and even stir citizens into political action.

Author : S. Perkowitz
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 255 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2010
Category : Science fiction films
ISBN : OCLC:1082788534

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Hollywood Science by S. Perkowitz Pdf

Author : Christian Baron,Peter Nicolai Halvorsen,Christine Cornea
Publisher : Springer
Page : 246 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2017-07-10
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9783319565774

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Science Fiction, Ethics and the Human Condition by Christian Baron,Peter Nicolai Halvorsen,Christine Cornea Pdf

This book explores what science fiction can tell us about the human condition in a technological world, with the ethical dilemmas and consequences that this entails. This book is the result of the joint efforts of scholars and scientists from various disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach sets an example for those who, like us, have been busy assessing the ways in which fictional attempts to fathom the possibilities of science and technology speak to central concerns about what it means to be human in a contemporary world of technology and which ethical dilemmas it brings along. One of the aims of this book is to demonstrate what can be achieved in approaching science fiction as a kind of imaginary laboratory for experimentation, where visions of human (or even post-human) life under various scientific, technological or natural conditions that differ from our own situation can be thought through and commented upon. Although a scholarly work, this book is also designed to be accessible to a general audience that has an interest in science fiction, as well as to a broader academic audience interested in ethical questions.

Author : Yannis Tzioumakis,Peter Krämer
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Page : 288 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2018-06-28
Category : Performing Arts
ISBN : 9781501337901

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The Hollywood Renaissance by Yannis Tzioumakis,Peter Krämer Pdf

In December 1967, Time magazine put Bonnie and Clyde on its cover and proudly declared that Hollywood cinema was undergoing a 'renaissance'. For the next few years, a wide range of formally and thematically challenging films were produced at the very centre of the American film industry, often (but by no means always) combining success at the box office with huge critical acclaim, both then and later. This collection brings together acknowledged experts on American cinema to examine thirteen key films from the years 1966 to 1974, starting with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, a major studio release which was in effect exempted from Hollywood's Production Code and thus helped to liberate American filmmaking from (self-)censorship. Long-standing taboos to do with sex, violence, race relations, drugs, politics, religion and much else could now be broken, often in conjunction with extensive stylistic experimentation. Whereas most previous scholarship has examined these developments through the prism of auteurism, with its tight focus on film directors and their oeuvres, the contributors to this collection also carefully examine production histories and processes. In doing so they pay particular attention to the economic underpinnings and collaborative nature of filmmaking, the influence of European art cinema as well as of exploitation, experimental and underground films, and the connections between cinema and other media (notably publishing, music and theatre). Several chapters show how the innovations of the Hollywood Renaissance relate to further changes in American cinema from the mid-1970s onwards.

Author : Melvin E. Matthews
Publisher : Algora Publishing
Page : 180 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2007
Category : Performing Arts
ISBN : 9780875864990

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1950s Science Fiction Films and 9/11 by Melvin E. Matthews Pdf

1950s Cold War-era monsters meet 21st century terrorists: this exploration of sci-fi movies examines the similarities and differences between the political environment and popular culture of two eras. This examination and appreciation of 1950s science fiction films includes behind-the-scenes tales about their production and many quotes from those who produced and starred in the films. The author draws parallels between the Cold War fears of the 1950s and 60s and the constant "terrorism alerts" of the September 11th era, exploring how the politics and the psychological climate of the times influences and is reflected in this vehicle of popular culture. This book is the first of its kind, studying the pop culture genre in the wake of the September 11th tragedy. It shows that, whatever the era and whatever the challenges and crises confronting America, many entertainment themes remain the same, reflecting their respective times and the relevant issues. For instance, Godzilla, the only Fifties-era monster to remain a "movie star" beyond that era, could be fashioned to reflect whatever issues dominate the times, be they nuclear war in the Fifties when Godzilla originated to a Seventies Godzilla film about environmental pollution. Conceivably a Godzilla for the age of terrorism is possible. "Them"! the 1954 atomic mutation classic, is the spiritual ancestor of the 2002 film "Eight Legged Freaks." The alien invaders of the Fifties signified a Russian invasion of America, while other films of the genre, such as "Invaders from Mars," depicted aliens utilizing mind control to manipulate humans to commit acts of sabotage, signifying Communist enslavement. If such a film were made now, such invaders could be seen as terrorist masterminds using human slaves to commit terrorist acts. Finally, several Fifties films depicted the end of the world at a time when Americans expected a nuclear war with Russia. The immediate pre-September 11th era witnessed films presenting galactic threats to mankind's existence ("Independence Day," "Deep Impact," "Armageddon"), while the early 2000s witnessed the popularity of the "Left Behind" Christian films dramatizing the Tribulation period in the Book of Revelation.

Author : Michael Brooks,Rick Edwards
Publisher : Atlantic Books
Page : 285 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2019-10-03
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781786496942

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Hollywood Wants to Kill You by Michael Brooks,Rick Edwards Pdf

'A wonderful book... Delightfully varied... As with all the best science writing, this book doesn't just give answers, it also asks interesting questions.' Daily Mail 'Captivating and intelligent! Who knew death could be this much fun?' Richard Osman Asteroids, killer sharks, nuclear bombs, viruses, deadly robots, climate change, the apocalypse - why is Hollywood so obsessed with death and the end of the world? And how seriously should we take the dystopian visions of our favourite films? With wit, intelligence and irreverence, Rick Edwards and Dr Michael Brooks explore the science of death and mass destruction through some of our best-loved Hollywood blockbusters. From Armageddon and Dr Strangelove to The Terminator and Contagion, they investigate everything from astrophysics to AI, with hilarious and captivating consequences. Packed with illustrations, fascinating facts and numerous spoilers, Hollywood Wants to Kill You is the perfect way into the science of our inevitable demise.

Author : Steven Mintz,Randy W. Roberts
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 417 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 2010-03
Category : History
ISBN : 9781405190039

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Hollywood's America by Steven Mintz,Randy W. Roberts Pdf

Fully revised, updated, and extended, this compilation of interpretive essays and primary documents teaches students to read films as cultural artifacts within the contexts of actual past events. A new edition of this classic textbook, which ties movies into the broader narrative of US and film history Ten new articles which consider recently released films, as well as issues of gender and ethnicity Well-organized within a chronological framework with thematic treatments to provide a valuable resource for students of the history of American film Fourth edition includes completely new images throughout

Author : James Russell,Jim Whalley
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Page : 353 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2017-12-28
Category : Performing Arts
ISBN : 9781501331503

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Hollywood and the Baby Boom by James Russell,Jim Whalley Pdf

Between 1946 and 1964 seventy-five million babies were born, dwarfing the generations that preceded and succeeded them. At each stage of its life-cycle, the baby boom's great size has dictated the terms of national policy and public debate. While aspects of this history are well-documented, the relationship between the baby boom and Hollywood has never been explored. And yet, for almost 40 years, baby boomers made up the majority of Hollywood's audience, and since the 1970s, boomers have dominated movie production. Hollywood and the Baby Boom weaves together interviews with leading filmmakers, archival research and the memories of hundreds of ordinary filmgoers to tell the full story of Hollywood's relationship with the boomers for the first time. The authors demonstrate the profound influence of the boomers on the ways that movies were made, seen and understood since the 1950s. The result is a compelling new account that draws upon an unprecedented range of sources, and offers new insights into the history of American movies.

Author : Johnson Brian David
Publisher : Springer Nature
Page : 223 pages
File Size : 41,7 Mb
Release : 2022-05-31
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9783031017964

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Science Fiction Prototyping by Johnson Brian David Pdf

Science fiction is the playground of the imagination. If you are interested in science or fascinated with the future then science fiction is where you explore new ideas and let your dreams and nightmares duke it out on the safety of the page or screen. But what if we could use science fiction to do more than that? What if we could use science fiction based on science fact to not only imagine our future but develop new technologies and products? What if we could use stories, movies and comics as a kind of tool to explore the real world implications and uses of future technologies today? Science Fiction Prototyping is a practical guide to using fiction as a way to imagine our future in a whole new way. Filled with history, real world examples and conversations with experts like best selling science fiction author Cory Doctorow, senior editor at Dark Horse Comics Chris Warner and Hollywood science expert Sidney Perkowitz, Science Fiction Prototyping will give you the tools you need to begin designing the future with science fiction. The future is Brian David Johnson’s business. As a futurist at Intel Corporation, his charter is to develop an actionable vision for computing in 2021. His work is called “future casting”—using ethnographic field studies, technology research, trend data, and even science fiction to create a pragmatic vision of consumers and computing. Johnson has been pioneering development in artificial intelligence, robotics, and reinventing TV. He speaks and writes extensively about future technologies in articles and scientific papers as well as science fiction short stories and novels (Fake Plastic Love and Screen Future: The Future of Entertainment, Computing and the Devices We Love). He has directed two feature films and is an illustrator and commissioned painter. Table of Contents: Preface / Foreword / Epilogue / Dedication / Acknowledgments / 1. The Future Is in Your Hands / 2. Religious Robots and Runaway Were-Tigers: A Brief Overview of the Science and the Fiction that Went Into Two SF Prototypes / 3. How to Build Your Own SF Prototype in Five Steps or Less / 4. I, Robot: From Asimov to Doctorow: Exploring Short Fiction as an SF Prototype and a Conversation With Cory Doctorow / 5. The Men in the Moon: Exploring Movies as an SF Prototype and a Conversation with Sidney Perkowitz / 6. Science in the Gutters: Exploring Comics as an SF Prototype and a Conversation With Chris Warner / 7. Making the Future: Now that You Have Developed Your SF Prototype, What’s Next? / 8. Einstein’s Thought Experiments and Asimov’s Second Dream / Appendix A: The SF Prototypes / Notes / Author Biography

Author : Frank Lehman
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2018-05-01
Category : Music
ISBN : 9780190606428

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Hollywood Harmony by Frank Lehman Pdf

Film music often tells us how to feel, but it also guides us how to hear. Filmgoing is an intensely musical experience, one in which the soundtrack structures our interpretations and steers our emotions. Hollywood Harmony explores the inner workings of film music, bringing together tools from music theory, musicology, and music psychology in this first ever book-length analytical study of this culturally central repertoire. Harmony, and especially chromaticism, is emblematic of the "film music sound," and it is often used to evoke that most cinematic of feelings-wonder. To help parse this familiar but complex musical style, Hollywood Harmony offers a first-of-its kind introduction to neo-Riemannian theory, a recently developed and versatile method of understanding music as a dynamic and transformational process, rather than a series of inert notes on a page. This application of neo-Riemannian theory to film music is perfect way in for curious newcomers, while also constituting significant scholarly contribution to the larger discipline of music theory. Author Frank Lehman draws from his extensive knowledge of cinematic history with case-studies that range from classics of Golden Age Hollywood to massive contemporary franchises to obscure cult-films. Special emphasis is placed on scores for major blockbusters such as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Inception. With over a hundred meticulously transcribed music examples and more than two hundred individual movies discussed, Hollywood Harmony will fascinate any fan of film and music.