Science in Entertainment

How often are we curious about the various things and events happening around us? Outside the requisites of an assignment, we often do not ponder over the different scientific phenomena around us, such as the anatomy of a flower, the working of a phone, the chemical composition of various foods, and more. Science plays a huge role in every sphere of life; in all the things we experience every day. Evidence, even if we do not comprehend it in our lives, has been illustrated in detail by the entertainment industry.

Over the course of many decades, science has played a significant role in the entertainment industry, either as a muse or a prop. Storytellers and entertainers have been incorporating different aspects of science to further their narratives, finding newer ways to compel their audiences for years. By integrating science with tales, they try to explicate that science isn’t knowledge far too advanced for the common man. This is important, as it forms the foundation for the mindset which views science as a dull or incomprehensible subject which would in turn dull the narrative and bore audiences.

Incorporating scientists as protagonists or other important roles, explaining events and happenings by scientific explanations, bringing discoveries, theories, and phenomena to life via motion pictures – the incorporation of science happens endlessly. The best part of it all - it works! Science keeps viewers hooked on until the very end of the tale. It allows the audience to dream, to imagine the endless applications of theorems and discoveries. It inspires people to learn more, igniting the spark of passion. It is also important as it incites appreciation for the subject and its fields, removing all uncertainty towards it.

Some examples hail from the famous Marvel franchise – the “Avengers” films, wherein Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, the Iron Man and Hulk respectively, are scientists who actively work on discoveries and inventions, and often integrate their work with their superhero identities. Moving on from comic book stories, there exist films like “Lucy”, in which a particular performance-enhancing drug unlocks a brain’s full potential, giving the victim heightened abilities and senses, and so on. Movies like Interstellar, Tenet, Inception and so on, also require a contemplative mindset, even after the movie ends.

Regional films have taken to this trend as well; Enthiran (2010), was a revolutionary movie in the Tamil industry, which was later dubbed in several languages. Android Kunjappan Ver 5.25, is a Malayalam movie with a similar concept, far more recent and advanced, factually. Scope for alien life has also been portrayed in Bollywood movies such as Krishh and PK. This genre of films, ones which are termed ‘food for thought’, are more impactful and leave you coming back for answers.

Time travel, infinite universes, mutants or meta-humans, serums that enhance human abilities, the untapped potential of the human mind, consciousness, bleeding edge technology, software more advanced than anything humanity has seen so far, artificial intelligence - these are just a few of the innumerable scientific topics that have been in popular books, TV shows, movies, and generally in the culture of entertainment which engages us these days. Thus, science is a part of the wonderful tapestry of life, intertwined with things like theatre, film, art, music, and much more. These elements of life help us comprehend and appreciate our place in this seemingly endless universe, navigate it, and bond with each other over this vast expanse of knowledge.