A Word from George Basalla

Notes from:  Basalla, G. (1976). Pop Science: The Depiction of Science in Popular Culture. Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science. Reidel Publishing Company. doi:978-90-277-0657-7

• "Popular science" is science that is restricted to a highly-educated group, mostly the scientific community; this is not where comics fit in
• "There exists a feedback loop between widely-held American ideas of science and their popular artistic representation in comic strips, television shows, and feature films." (p. 261)
• Like many other authors, Basalla agrees "pop science" - an aspect of the popularization of science - is understudied and under-appreciated (p. 261)
• During the golden age of comic books (1938-1954), doctors/scientists were depicted as ruthless, heartless, and willing to sacrifice any and all for the secret formula (p. 262)
• With the 1960's came Stan Lee's Marvel Comics, introducing a new "social conscience" in plots and expanding the audience from young boys to college students (p. 262)
• Most scientists depicted were those who transformed into monster-like creatures: Dr. Bruce Banner & The Hulk, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Chemist Ted Sallis & Man-Thing, Dr. Curtis Connors & The Lizard (p. 262-3)

Caught in the blast of gamma radiation, brilliant scientist Bruce Banner is cursed to transform in times of stress into the living engine of destruction known as THE INCREDIBLE HULK.

More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/universe/Hulk_(Bruce_Banner)#ixzz20oinDsyn

• Stan Lee continued the portrayal of scientists as tending towards "mental instability and social irresponsibility" (p. 263)
• Reference: 134 million copies of Marvel Comics distributed v. 6.85 million Scientific American (no date given on the reference) (p. 263)
• Those not portrayed as evil are flawed; he is either naive or overly obsessed and cannot see the resulting consequence of his research - in the end, his work results in the same consequences as the mad scientist
• Good example, Frankenstein (p. 264)
• The "good" scientists that we see are usually assistants or lab technicians that do all of the work but receive no recognition or glory
• Good example, the techs that work in the lab assisting Dick Tracy's detective work (p. 265)
• A quick comment is made about how medical doctors may be excused from this depiction because of their necessity of interacting with the public in both social and political systems
• "Rex Morgan, MD can truthfully be shown in a comic strip as a faithful servant of society." (p. 271)
• Scientists often referred to as "they", as if they're hidden away from society (p. 272)
• An estimated 100 million Americans read at least one comic strip in the Sunday papers, and at least 90 million follow a favorite character in daily episodes - this at a time when the population was 211 million (p. 276)
• "...the individuals whoa are in a position to reach substantial numbers of Americans with their conception of science are therefore not science writers and journalists...it is rather the persons who produce popular television shows and feature films, along with the cartoonists of the favorite comic strips - in short the creators of popular culture - for whom the wide American public receives its portrayals of science and scientists." (p. 276)

George Basalla's take on the scientist being portrayed negatively doesn't appear to affect the medical doctors, however, I think it's interesting to include this angle when considering the audiences reading The Hulk and Dick Tracy may be similar to those that may be reading Rex Morgan, MD. The critical argument that he makes is in the power of "pop science" to influence the public.