tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post1097305537670410425..comments2023-08-07T16:41:49.660+02:00Comments on Die Klimazwiebel: What is the problem with science popularization?eduardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17725131974182980651noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post-61840662389735527772013-03-30T21:53:09.399+01:002013-03-30T21:53:09.399+01:00Thanks Mike for drawing the attention to Adam Curt...Thanks Mike for drawing the attention to Adam Curtis's documentary films. There is a remarkable work on the influence of Ayn Rand (among others), called ALL WATCHED OVER BY MACHINES OF LOVING GRACE. We had a thread on the poem by the same title (written by Richard Brautigam). I agree with the need for irreverence. But what are the opportunities to produce such works? Where is the market for them? OK, the BBC produces them, but how visible are they? Field is a marginal figure compared to the mainstream gee whiz. on What is the problem with science popularization?@ReinerGrundmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12759452975366986236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post-12199446498446061932013-03-30T20:12:54.968+01:002013-03-30T20:12:54.968+01:00Glaser responds in the comments:
"The humani...Glaser responds in the comments:<br /><br />"The humanities is having its funding cut, and the humanities is a tool for sceptical enquiry, including about science. Science is also a tool for sceptical enquiry, but not when it’s shrouded in reverence."<br /><br />It would be great to see more irreverent science programming. I think this is what BBC's recent Story of Science was angling for ("power, passion, rivalry") but still ended up following a lot of narrative and popular science conventions. Adam Curtis probably goes furthest in being critical about science & tech, but the man's a genre in his own right.<br /><br />Of course, irreverence is probably not going to get anyone newly interested in science, but science's darker human dramas and politics can provide ample material for compelling stories (and here the history of the social sciences have a lot to contribute).<br /><br />Ultimately we expect science popularization to be more than entertainment, which I think accounts for a lot of reactions to this piece. It should inform, inspire, etc.<br />I also think science popularizations can serve a public good by moving beyond old conventions (described and critiqued by Roger Silverstone in the 80s) and experimenting with new forms of presentation. This won't result in any more funding for anyone, and it may be harder to accept (not as readily intertextual - fewer familiar reference points), but I'd argue the public good could with a corrective to all the "gee whiz".Mike Zajkonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post-4654874023328918652013-03-14T17:23:25.727+01:002013-03-14T17:23:25.727+01:00Anon - ... and your point is?Anon - ... and your point is?@ReinerGrundmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12759452975366986236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post-37181057952802746572013-03-14T16:51:01.358+01:002013-03-14T16:51:01.358+01:00Seems to me that one should first read up on reade...Seems to me that one should first read up on readerly and writerly before talking about it. The concept and distinction of texts into these categories (and more) is older than you think. Just read Roland Barthes. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post-8628818902083542462013-03-04T05:16:33.330+01:002013-03-04T05:16:33.330+01:00When astronomer Carl Sagen was featured in a telev...When astronomer Carl Sagen was featured in a television series in 1980, he was frequently filmed looking up and over the camera, as if gazing out across the galaxy. And they'd put a light behind him, such that there appeared to be a halo of heavenly light around his head. There's something that happens to scientists when they get on television. Mark B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03524735496130204611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post-82748018058090038622013-03-02T16:58:45.926+01:002013-03-02T16:58:45.926+01:00Thanks for this information. It is a shame that th...Thanks for this information. It is a shame that this book is not available in English, but it seems that some climate scientists at least have become more reflexive and cautious in their communication activities. I suppose they need to in the current political climate. This may be quite different for the Coxes of this world who deal with relatively uncontentious topics in their Sunday night broadcasts to mass audiences. They may of course also attempt to steer the politics of science and science funding, but that again is quite different from the political atmosphere around climate science and climate politics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post-71573837605095491602013-03-02T16:27:57.180+01:002013-03-02T16:27:57.180+01:00I am not aware of empirical research on this preci...I am not aware of empirical research on this precise question but perhaps can point me in the right direction. Regarding your second point, the sensitization of climate scientists, here is Hans von Storch in a comment on 'Die Klimafalle in den Medien':<br /><br />'Ich muß also damit rechnen, daß meine Aussagen zu bestimmten Zwecken instrumentalisiert werden. Das ist einerseits ärgerlich, aber menschlich und im Rahmen der demokratischen Willensbildung auch legitim, weil gängige Praxis. Die Wirkung eines Arguments gehört nicht mir.'<br /><br />Here von Storch recognizes that he does not control the meaning of a statement once it enters public discourse.<br /><br />Was dagegen tun: Versuchen so zu formulieren, daß eine Mißdeutung unmöglich oder zumindest schwieriger wird. Das gelingt nicht immer. An anderer Stelle deutlich und konsistent sagen, welche Position man einnimmt. Ich mache das bisweilen auf meiner eigenen web-Seite, und würde das hier auch gerne tun, wenn Sie mir das wörtliche Zitat schicken könnten.<br /><br />Here he points out that he is most likely to remain in control when he controls the medium in which he communicates and the content, i.e. his words on his website.<br /><br />There are other climate scientists who take a different approach. These scientists criticise the media for distorting their messages, for misrepresenting the science, for creating a false balance where there is none, etc. In the language of Fiske, they assume that their texts are either readerly or writerly. In the first case they would need to have produced a closed and easy to understand text where the reader is passive recipient. This is unlikely to work in a world where controversies surround the issue. <br /><br />In the second case they would produce a challenging text which needs deciphering, which can only be done by competent experts, such as the climate scientists themselves, or with the help of mediators, journalists, translators. This is not going to work either as the mass media does not like footnotes.<br /><br />So they are left with the producerly text which invites interpretation and is open to that. Superficiality, easy language, even vulgar language will help to make the text popular, part of popular culture. But you are no longer in control of the text.@ReinerGrundmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12759452975366986236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216971263350849959.post-85811297674497552062013-03-02T08:40:43.951+01:002013-03-02T08:40:43.951+01:00Interesting blog. It would be great to have some m...Interesting blog. It would be great to have some more information about two points though. Is there any evidence for the illusion that scientists seem to harbour? "To assume one could operate in the realm of popular culture and remain in control of the text produced is one of the great illusions which popularizing scientists seem to harbour." Is there any empirical research around this issue? You also say that climate scientists seem to have become sensitised to the issue of textual genres. Again, it would be great to have some more information about this topic. In what way have they become more sensitised and how does this manifest itself? Looking forward to learning more about these textual issues!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com