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Imagining Evolution: Drama and Science Fiction
Chapter

Imagining Evolution: Drama and Science Fiction

Abstract

Beginning with early radio dramas on evolution, including a historical radio play on the voyage of the Beagle by George Orwell, this chapter outlines how it was in non-science broadcasts where the most stereotypical framing of evolution occurred. Whether explorations of evolutionary philosophy in Doctor Who, the ethically questionable science fiction of Doomwatch or in the many historical dramatisations centred on Darwinian controversies, in most non-science content, depiction of evolutionary science was often outdated, incomplete, teleological and, on occasion, simply incorrect. The chapter argues that the association of evolution with morally ambiguous scientists and reprehensible scientific practices across a range of broadcast media, movies and science fiction novels has created a normative frame that explicitly links evolutionary ideas to controversy and conflict.

Authors

Hall A

Book title

Palgrave Studies in Science and Popular Culture

Volume

Part F2116

Pagination

pp. 125-163

Publication Date

January 1, 2021

DOI

10.1007/978-3-030-83043-4_5
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