Pop Culture Science

I think there’s a lot to be said about the current crop of television shows we see on cable TV that mix top-notch entertainment with hard-core science. These shows entertain in true hollywood fashion – excitement, mystery, hot women! – but the real stars aren’t the characters; it’s the science.

I wonder how many scientists and engineers 10 years from now will look back and say that they got their inspiration from shows like CSI and Mythbusters? I’m one of those who was inspired by Knight Rider (my car knows where it is and talks to me via GPS, and I can talk to it as well – you should see people looking at me as if I’m a mad man!).

The appeal is from a strong storyline and production quality, mixed with sound science that prevents the show from delving into farce (remember the pseudo-mysteries and tensions on psychic shows on SciFi Channel?) Mythbusters breaks down everyday problems, fables and urban myths into their different components, and explores each, often at small- and large scales. This is straightforward enough. But there are times when this also reveals how silly people can be sometimes when myths are busted.

CSI’s procedural drama would be like any other cop show, except the stars are scientists and the test tubes are the guns they carry. The way cases are solved methodically, free from emotions or instincts (at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be, but, hey, this is Hollywood), never mind characters’ individual flaws. In that show, bad guys can win.

There’s a lesson for us here in Jamaica. We are a very emotionally-driven society that operates reflexively and rashly. These shows don’t necessarily operate at a snail’s pace – have you seen the craziness on Mythbusters? – but they don’t necessarily hang around and make excuses for poor or no results. We sometimes blame the lack of resources as the reason nothing (and nothing can mean anything) gets done. What we need is creativity; we need to think outside the box. We’re a VERY creative people – people find creative ways to avoid taxes, smuggle things, and lie, but there are positive examples of our creativity as well, such as in our music and in industries like small farming and some elements of the tourism industry. But we can also be very un-creative (carnival is a good example of this; did we need to import something from elsewhere to which we have no cultural attachment or otherwise?), and our copycat appetite has led us down dangerous paths as we become too lazy to innovate and develop new things.

There is a need for a creative revolution across Jamaican society. We need creative ways to educate young people this new school year, and creative ways to attract and keep good teachers. We need creative ways to create new jobs and develop new manufacturing products, not necessarily doing low-end work for other people. We need creative ways to fight crime and remove un-creative people who would block this.

As attention spans shorten, and young people increasingly see schooling as a chore that they will just need to make it through without seeing the long-term benefits, steer into the skid and turn on some CSI and Mythbusters! You get some great entertainment and learn something (some way some how) at the same time…