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SCIF1004 Science and the Cinema
Discussion Piece Information
The discussion piece is worth 40% of the course. The assessment item must be submitted
via Moodle. Please note, that failure to submit by the deadline will carry a 5-mark a day
penalty (assignment is out of 100 marks) up to 5 days where the penalty will be 100-marks
(this is the UNSW policy).
On to the assessment item, so far on this course you should have seen (from
watching the lectures and films) that science and scientists can be portrayed in a variety of
different ways:
Science/Scientists can be portrayed as shining lights, striving to make the future a better
place…
Science/Scientists can be shown as a force of evil, highlighting how manipulation can have
catastrophic results…
Or
Some films depict science/scientists in a balanced manner, highlighting the good that can be
done but giving a forewarning of potential problems…
Your task is to write a discussion piece on how a science/scientific concept has been
portrayed in film, you should frame your piece in line with one of the italicised statements
(vide supra). In your piece you may use films from the course or others of your own
choosing. If you choose a film that is not part of this course then it is a good idea to first
consult the FAQ list (then if you still are not sure contact the course coordinator) to see if
your film is suitable; a common issue when selecting your own film is that the science
involved is not actually science and instead is merely a bunch of made up terms used as a
plot device, your assignment is to discuss the portrayal of science in film not the plot of a
bunch of films (although some context might be needed). Also, the discussion piece is not
supposed to be an attack on a series of films, highlighting the absurdity of what transpires
or what “fake” science was depicted.
An example of a good assignment:
You are discussing ‘science X’… Film A only shows X in a positive light; however, you have
seen film B and in it X was approached with caution, you could therefore discuss how in film
A although the science is only portrayed in a positive light, it could also conceivably be
misused as in film B’s depiction. You could then go onto discuss what impact these films
have had on your own thinking about X…
An example of a bad assignment:
You watch film A… You discuss how you know that film A would never happen, ‘science X’
does not allow ‘plot point’ to happen, in fact ‘alternate plot point’ would have happened,
film B also makes the same assumption about X again so ‘plot point’ would not happen…
SCIF1004 Science and the Cinema
2
Or
You watch film A… You discuss how ‘made up words disguised as science’ allowed mankind
to talk to ‘magical space fairies’, the ‘magical space fairies’ turn out to be evil and plot to
overthrow mankind. In film B however the ‘magical space fairies’ are benevolent and give
mankind the technology to explore the stars…