Hollywood Disasters: Natural Hazards in the Movies

4 credits

The planet Earth is very exciting (at least geologists think so!), but can it truly live up to the hype and drama as portrayed in the movies? From the big-budget films like The Core, San Andreas, or The Day After Tomorrow or even less widely known sci-fi films, movies tend to distort the truth of natural disasters and Earth processes for dramatic effect. In this course, we will have a chance to watch a number of movies that center on natural hazards (such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and tornadoes) and other Earth processes (Earths interior, climate change). We will study the natural hazards depicted in these films, learn about their scientific origin, and finally examine and critique the films portrayals of these processes. We will also discuss the role of movies and media in the spread of scientific misinformation and understanding risk. By the end of the course, you will not only have a better understanding of the Earth and its hazards, but also some insight into how to objectively approach geoscience represented in media. Satisfies Core requirement for: Natural Science