The Chemist as Anti-Hero: Walter White and Sherlock Holmes as Case Studies

Abstract

Compared to chemists in film, chemists in modern television drama are underexamined by scholars, even though the genre is a powerful processor of images and ideas about culture and society. This critical essay draws on ideas from science communication, media studies and literary studies to examine the representation of chemists and chemistry in the acclaimed television dramas "Breaking Bad" and "Sherlock." A textual analysis of these shows, chosen as critical case studies, demonstrates that they both portray their chemist protagonists as anti-heroes, who are morally ambivalent characters. The essay argues that both shows portray chemistry as uncommon knowledge, which is conducted largely in isolation or in secret. Although the shows represent chemistry as an empirical and experimental science, they demonstrate that the craft of chemistry is not ethically neutral. In "Breaking Bad," Walter White chooses to stop using his chemistry skills to teach, and subsequently slides into an immoral world of death, destruction and destabilization. In "Sherlock," Sherlock Holmes is an amoral, but benign, figure who uses his forensic knowledge to save lives and confront crime. These representations demonstrate that ethical choices are entwined with the practice of chemistry and these choices, in turn, have social consequences. Chemistry and Contemporary Television DramaThe comprehensive study of chemistry on celluloid, Reaction! (2009), identified Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) as the film that established the prototype for subsequent characterizations of chemists in movies. The chemist is at once good and evil, capable of care and harm, a dualistic portrayal that remains central to how chemistry is presented, and perceived, in Western culture. (1) This ambivalence is enhanced by the recurrent representation in film of chemists, and other scientists, as ambiguous figures. Even when they are benevolent figures, they are idealistic figures, who become gradually corrupted. They are ambitious, but overlook the social consequences of their science. They are driven to gain new knowledge, but become willing to violate ethical principles." (2) Their uncertain social stature is reflected in their presentation in as unusual in dress and behavior --and their scientific wisdom is portrayed as "uncommon knowledge." (3) Yet compared to their counterparts in movies, chemists in television drama have not received a similar amount of scholarly scrutiny. This is a significant shortfall because, as the scholar of television drama Helena Sheehan argues, the genre is a powerful "processor of the collective images and ideas through which we as a society represent ourselves to ourselves and to others." (4) The genre reflects and refracts the values and experiences that exist in a particular culture at a specific time. This presentation of the world in dramatic television stories, Sheehan argues, is neither simple nor straightforward, but it does convey particular premises about how the world is organized, about how society is structured and about how...

Using Pop-Culture to Engage Students in the Classroom

“…Breaking Bad, a crime drama television series created by Vince Gilligan in 2008 122 for AMC, also offers numerous opportunities for use in classroom. The chemist protagonist, Walter White, chooses to stop using his chemistry skills to teach for an immoral world of drugs, death, destruction and destabilization 123 Many other references from this series can be used for illustration, such as the reaction of hydrofluoric acid with silicon material (bath tube), the chemical composition of the human body (63 % hydrogen, 26 % oxygen, 9 % carbon, 1.25 % nitrogen, 0.04 % sodium, 0.25% of calcium, 0.00004% iron and 0.19 % phosphorus), chirality of molecules and its possible consequences (such as Thalidomide 125,126 ), explosives, and ricin poisons 127 . As discussed later, an activity with such a controversial series must be well supervised by educators.…”

“…The chemist protagonist, Walter White, chooses to stop using his chemistry skills to teach for an immoral world of drugs, death, destruction, and destabilization. 123 To promote the positive value of chemistry, we hereby propose having students work on a similar but useful molecule, dextroamphetamine. Unlike the methamphetamine in Breaking Bad, dextroamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant that is prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy.…”

“…Breaking Bad , a crime drama television series created by Vince Gilligan in 2008 for AMC, also offers numerous opportunities for use in classroom. The chemist protagonist, Walter White, chooses to stop using his chemistry skills to teach for an immoral world of drugs, death, destruction, and destabilization . To promote the positive value of chemistry, we hereby propose having students work on a similar but useful molecule, dextroamphetamine.…”