Scholarship & Research
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Item Allow me to introduce you to: an argument for the efficacy of portrait filmmaking in science communication(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2021) Hill, Nicholas Scott; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Theo LipfertMedia influences how we perceive the world. Reductive portrayals of scientists in literature and motion pictures have contributed to negative connotations of scientists and scientific fields. In a culture of personality where a person's credentials are linked to their likability, breaking these connotations is crucial. If the goal of science communication in documentary is to inform the public about scientific principles, research, or new discoveries; using portrait filmmaking can assist in meeting that end. Effective use of portraiture filmmaking in science communication can help show that scientists are much more complex than some media have portrayed them. They are people, with real passion about the field they are exploring as well as for other aspects of life. When a filmmaker shows a scientist as a character with more depth than just their profession, they can create empathy and connection between viewers and scientists. If viewers can relate to the scientists, they may be more receptive to the field or the research the scientists are passionate about. In this paper, I suggest that the use of portraiture filmmaking in science communication is an effective tool to use in showing the public that scientists are relatable people, not reductive representations of their profession.Item Get one million views overnight!: How YouTube influences the creation and reception of documentary film(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2019) Hockett, Marcus Andrew; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Theo LipfertTrends in media creation, distribution and consumption have led YouTube to become a platform where masses of creators and consumers come together to tell stories, entertain and share information. Documentary filmmakers have begun to utilize YouTube for the distribution of films and develop content specifically for the platform. YouTube culture has influenced creators to produce content with an aesthetic distinct to the platform. The indiscriminate nature of the platform allows for nearly any creator to produce content. A participatory culture is created where viewers can critique and share additional information in a comment section and influence future content creation. YouTube is assisting filmmakers in accomplishing their objectives by linking them with an audience that desires their content. My film, Scumbag Hunters, was influenced by what I call the YouTube niche. Creating this film designed for the YouTube niche and distributing on the platform may be a favorable avenue compared to traditional distribution methods in accomplishing the objectives of entertaining, inspiring and educating the audience.Item The representation of mental illness in the media: the use of the nature documentary(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2019) Huetter, Abigail Esther; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Theo LipfertThe misrepresentation of mental illness in the media has been the norm for the last sixty years. Mental illness in film and television is portrayed as dangerous and criminal. The representations shifted to show weakness and vulnerability rather than criminality, yet these depictions still resulted in stigmatization for the mentally ill audience. Documentary filmmakers within the last decade have attempted to tackle the subject of depression and other mental health issues and provided facts and science about the illness. These films were not aimed towards mentally ill audiences; they instead attempted to educate and inform the audiences that had preconceived notions about mental illness. Although good in intention, there was still a lack of representation for authentic and honest characters on screen with mental illness. This paper argues that the form of the nature documentary is the ideal backdrop to represent mental health issues. Nature documentaries demonstrate the science behind why we feel happy while we are outside; what happens in our brain chemistry that makes us feel so good and at peace. My thesis film 'Out of the Woods' borrows elements from the nature documentary and showcases real women on screen with mental illness, in order to increase its visibility to the public eye, without triggering the viewer into reacting to a prepossessed stigma of mental illness from earlier media representations.Item Dumbing it down : mass media and science literacy in the USA(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2015) Kanode, Casey Forest; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Theo LipfertScience literacy is important to individuals and the societies in which they live because it enhances our health, well being, and ability to progress into the future. A society whose citizens do not have or appreciate the benefits of scientific literacy are at risk of falling behind economically, have a greater chance of health crises, and may find themselves ill-equipped to navigate the dangers of a modern, technological world. Science literacy in America, while not extremely low, is being negatively impacted by elements within popular media including, but not limited to, the politicization of scientific issues by news media outlets, the rise in fake or pseudo-scientific television programming, and misinformation through social media channels. These factors, when viewed collectively, have created a social environment wherein scientific curiosity and intellect are at risk of stagnating. There are multiple risks to this outcome and must be confronted in order for our society to continue to progress scientifically and culturally.Item Creating space for science and celebrity in the public discussion of climate change(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2006) DeWitt, Sarah Louise; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: David ScheererClimate change is one of the most prominent topics in news, politics, and popular culture today. For many years the topic has been presented as an unresolved debate between believers and skeptics, leading to a perpetual state of confusion and helplessness in the public eye. In the past eight months newspapers and magazines have begun to suggest that the climate change debate is over. The scientific consensus agrees that climate change is happening and it is the result of human influence on the Earth's atmosphere. Yet this consensus has not effectively translated into the public consciousness. This gap between scientific understanding and the public perception of climate change is partly a result of limitations in popular media. It also comes from scientific reluctance to embrace modern and popular cultural modes of communication such as feature films, television programs, books, and alternative news sources. This includes interaction with non-scientist communicators and spokespeople. By paying attention to popular culture events and spokespeople, being prepared to speak to a non-scientific audience, and reaching out directly to this audience, scientists can play a significant role in the evolving public dialogue on climate change.Item Never wash away : a case study of video-centered outreach in the Republic of Congo(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2009) Matheson, Kelly Ann; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Dennis Aig.Since its inception, documentary film has been thought to be an effective way to galvanize social change. With the explosion of video for change organizations and projects both filmmakers and funders have a growing need to make a solid connection between the power of film and its concrete impact. This thesis will set forth the key principles for successful advocacy filmmaking and explore how the International Conservation and Education Fund's (INCEF's) Great Ape Public Awareness Project incorporated these principles into its approach to advocacy filmmaking. This exploration will be accomplished via a review of the organization's methodology combined with field observations from the first half of the 2008 field season in the northern villages of the Republic of Congo. This thesis will also highlight the successes and challenges INCEF faced during the three stages of advocacy filmmaking: 1) production; 2) strategic dissemination; and 3) impact evaluation, in an effort to inform the creation, implementation and evaluation of future advocacy video projects.Item Science and natural history film and the larger media environment(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2005) Ruggiero, Colin Ross; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ronald Tobias.The purpose of this thesis is to examine the ways in which science and natural history films are affected by the larger media environment and in particular, concentrated ownership structures. This first part of this examination is aimed at establishing that the corporate conglomerates that own the majority of mainstream media outlets and resources have sufficient control over the media environment to warrant speaking about specialized programming like science and natural history within the context of the larger corporate-owned environment. The remainder of the paper discusses the impacts this media environment has on science and natural history film. These impacts consist primarily of excessive commercial influence and a loss of diversity in programming. To explain and describe these effects, the paper uses a model of how the political and economic interests of these media monopolies led to a corporate bias and agenda that serves to filter the films that gain access to mainstream media outlets. This examination relies on a wide variety of data and case studies to support its arguments.Item Biodynamics : a case study for the balance between authority and accessibility in science documentary films(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2011) Loving, Kristyn Elisabeth; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Cindy Stillwell.Biodynamics is an alternative agricultural theory first proposed by the early twentieth century philosopher Rudolf Steiner in 1924. In the decades since, biodynamics has spread all over the world as an effective method of sustainable agriculture. However the general public remains largely unaware of biodynamics, in part because it does not easily conform to the expectations of a scientific theory and so is often dismissed as being unreliable. In this paper, I will use biodynamics as a case study to examine what role science authority plays in determining the structure of science films, which affects which theories are publicized while others are ignored in the media. In particular, I will focus on the methods used by expository documentaries to portray science.Item Strange bedfellows : science and storytelling for broadcast television(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2006) Bell, Andrew Wade; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ronald TobiasFilmmakers exploring natural science subject matter that want to sell their work to broadcast television or theatrical outlets face a difficult challenge. They must somehow conflate two contradictory elements: natural science information and compelling storytelling. Looking at the roots of classical narrative, we can better understand why audiences have come to crave it. Broadcast television, in turn, caters to audience desire. This combination forces filmmakers to present natural science information in an exciting way, and has led filmmakers to employ time-honored narrative structures as organizing strategies. While audiences seem to favor material presented this way, it calls the accuracy of the natural science presented into question. This paper will explore how and why the use of narrative became common to natural science filmmaking, illustrate the inherent incompatibilities between the narrative and natural science, and consider the repercussions of this filmmaking model.