Contagion Went Viral: Microbiology, Entertainment Media and the Public Understanding of Science

Abstract

Purpose of Review (research questions) How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced how movies are used in public health crises? What made Contagion (2011) the key example? Why is it important for scientists to understand the role of entertainment media in public understanding of science (PUS)? Recent Findings Microbiology on the Hollywood screen—and in particular, the way we talk about pandemics—has changed since COVID-19 hit. Imagined futures of the end of humanity have taken on a renewed relevance. The pandemic has inspired writers across a number of science/medical humanities fields to explore PUS and public pandemic preparedness. Summary Microbiology movies like Contagion became valuable sources of distraction and information. Their apparent accuracy and authenticity were because of the scientists. Contagion caught the public’s imagination because of its investment in representing the realities of science that offered a pathway through the pandemic instead of another dead (at the) end dystopian disaster.