Abstract
Though history and science may seem to be substantially different topics, some of the lessons learned from my studies of the historical film can be suggestive for studies of the way science is treated in the visual media. For one thing, both history and science are referential, pointing to empirical realms outside the discourse. Both also come to us through the established conventions of film (and literature). This means we must be prepared to deal with, even accept, certain kinds of stereotyping and fictionalizing in the depiction of science and scientists. Part of our task is to learn to read the language of the visual media, which tends towards symbolic and metaphoric rather than literal truths.
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