Unit 9 Final Project

When I hear the word scientist I envision a plethora of exciting images. I picture highly intelligent dedicated men and women diligent working against the clock to solve the world’s most dire problems with urgent fervor. I envision nameless hero’s who have saved the world against super viruses and certain calamity. When I hear the word scientist I think of those brilliant minds from a variety of scientific fields. I think of people like Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Louis Pasteur, Nikola Tesla and so forth. The characteristics these great men all shared were their focus on and expansion of the periphery of scientific progress and quality of life for our race. In the media however, these men seem to take a back seat to the characters of scientists played on Broadway and on the silver screen. The portrayal of scientists in the media, at least in fictional platforms of media; i.e. prime time television shows, movies, books, plays, show eccentric and often deranged, disheveled men franticly working away, mad with power and playing god. In the animated comedy “Futurama”, created by Matt Groining, the “Professor”, whom is a scientist, is portrayed as a senile old man on the verge of death and/or dementia. The “typical” media portrayal of fictional scientists is exploited in the animated series, and serve as a good reflection, and a small truth on how society sees our scientist. Other characters that come to mind are Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll. All three fictional characters share the odd characteristic of reckless abandon in the pursuit of a greater good, only to loose control and overstep their bounds with dire consequences.
The characteristics that I see in my vision of a scientist are 1.) A desire to contribute to human progress. 2.) Highly educated and intelligent. 3.) Stylish hair.
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