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- Volume 2, Issue 2, 2019
Journal of Science & Popular Culture - Volume 2, Issue 2, 2019
Volume 2, Issue 2, 2019
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Scientists in the Bond film franchise
By Claire HinesThe James Bond film franchise (1962–ongoing) has always relied on science and technology for topicality and spectacle. Over the years, the scientist figure has also made regular appearances in the Bond films, most often within the confines of some of the established character types and functions defined by the formula aspects of the series – the villain, the Bond girl and the Quartermaster, better known as Q. This article uses Bond scholarship to consider key examples of each of these depictions of the scientist in relation to the heroic masculinity of James Bond, and in the broader context of research examining images of scientists in popular fiction. In so doing the article contributes to ongoing debates about the representational politics of Bond and scientist stereotypes in popular culture.
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Capturing the magic of carbon dioxide: Engaging hands-on demonstrations to explain geological storage
Authors: Andrew Feitz, Susan Hovorka and Kate LehaneGlobal implementation of geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the proposed methods to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the worst effects of future climate change. However, conveying the benefits of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is a real challenge. In this article we explore the use of theatrical demonstrations that allow the public to interact with and control the behaviour of CO2 to reduce barriers to the technology. Engaging hands-on demonstrations offer the opportunity to ‘explain the magic’ and reinforce key concepts for the safe and effective storage of greenhouse gases.
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Conjuring unseen forces: Rainmaking in Australia with John Henry Pepper
By Lynne KentThe climatic history of Australia records long periods of drought, with the late 1880s being particularly harsh, and the dry, hot conditions throughout the whole country led to drastic measures being taken. Those who believed in divine intervention looked to the heavens and prayed for rain while others considered scientific solutions. Purportedly scientific demonstrations of rainmaking in Australia during the late 1880s, accompanied by all the trappings of fairground entertainment, were attended by large crowds. Merry go-rounds, donkey rides and Punch and Judy puppet shows were enjoyed alongside ‘gigantic electrical experiments’ and other optical illusions. These experiments capitalized on the Victorian fascination for science, enjoyment of stage magic and the enduring desire to triumph over nature. This article discusses rainmaking, or pluviculture, as an entertainment in Australia in the late nineteenth century that walked the delicate line between magic and science. Whether through the use of new technologies or by evoking the powers of belief, conjuring the unseen forces of nature remains a powerful performative act that continues to resonate with audiences today.
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Filming imagined and real catastrophe: Environmental trauma and natural disasters
By Pat BreretonThis article sets out to illustrate the power of fictional film to present cautionary tales around climate change. Three commercially and critically acclaimed films are randomly selected from the same period across what can roughly be categorized as mainstream and independent sectors of Hollywood production. Their reception together with their authorial intentionality is examined to help tease out some of the unique environmental affordances presented by such texts. Close textual readings are carried out to help point towards their emotional and ecological preoccupation with loss and trauma, which reflect ongoing global tensions around humans’ undeniable role and responsibility in the struggle to actively address climate change concerns.
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