Fiction vs. Reality: Analyzing Pandemics in TV Shows and Movies
Summary
This transcript takes a critical look at the portrayal of pandemics in popular movies and TV shows. The speaker analyses the accuracy of the depictions and highlights inaccuracies related to the procedures followed by medical professionals and governamental organsations when dealing with infectious diseases. While the scenes from Outbreak, Contagion, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes are considered accurate, there are issues with the virus mutation in House and the zombie virus in World War Z, among others. The transcript concludes by emphasizing the difference between fiction and reality and underscoring the importance of the measures used to prevent outbreaks from becoming global pandemics.
Introduction
Pandemics have been a popular theme in entertainment for as long as people can remember. Very often, they are portrayed as fast-moving with devastating effects on populations, cities, and even the world. In movies and TV shows, pandemics vary from the realistic to fictional. In this transcript, we explore the portrayal of pandemics in various movies and TV shows, highlighting the accuracy of the depictions and discussing their implication to the real world.
Q&A
The Importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Q: What is your opinion on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the movie Outbreak?
A: The use of PPE in Outbreak is somewhat accurate, but there are some mistakes. The film did show individuals wearing full-body suits to protect themselves from the spread of diseases. However, the mistake is how these suits were worn. They simply walked in, leaving the personnel at risk of contamination. Properly wearing and removing PPE before and after entering the isolation zone is a must in real life. If not followed, it could lead to the spread of the disease outside the zone.
Inaccuracies in the Smallpox Outbreak in E
Q: In the movie E, there is a smallpox outbreak. What is your analysis?
A: There are a few inaccuracies in the depiction of the smallpox outbreak in E. By 1980, the CDC eliminated smallpox, and there was already a vaccine to prevent the disease. While the symptoms in the movie are accurate, the depiction of infectious disease specialists investigating a smallpox outbreak in 2019 is questionable.
Accuracy in Contagion’s Depiction of Virus Spread
Q: How accurate is Contagion’s depiction of virus spread?
A: Contagion accurately portrays how quickly a virus can spread from one person to another. It also shows the importance of contact tracing and isolation measures that could contain an outbreak. The scene with the three-dimensional model of the virus and how it spreads from person to person is impressive and scientific.
Flawed Scenes in the Movie World War Z
Q: Can you talk about some of the flaws in the movie World War Z’s portrayal of a zombie virus?
A: World War Z depicts a zombie virus that spreads through a bite. While it is not impossible for a virus to spread that way, the way the virus is portrayed in the movie is very unlikely in real life. It is also questionable how quickly the virus spreads from person to person. The Capuchin Monkey is not even found in Africa. In real life, it would be challenging for a virus to mutate that quickly.
Issues with Virus Mutation in the TV Show House
Q: House also depicts an epidemic in which a virus mutates rapidly. What did you make of this?
A: House is a medical drama that features cases of genetic and infectious diseases, but the virus mutation depicted in the show is unlikely. While it is challenging to predict how viruses will mutate and evolve over time, the speed of the mutation in the show is unrealistic. In real life, the mutation of a virus takes longer, from years to decades or even more time.
The Possibility of a Simian Flu Pandemic, According to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Q: What is your opinion on the possibility of a simian flu pandemic as depicted in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes?
A: The portrayal of a simian flu pandemic in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is realistic. The way the virus spreads through airborne contamination is possible, and the signs and symptoms that infected people exhibit are accurate. While the movie is fiction, the chances of a virus spreading through the airborne route and infecting humans and animals are relatively high.
The Importance of Isolation Protocols
Q: How does the movie Outbreak underscore the importance of isolation protocols in hospitals?
A: Outbreak highlights the importance of isolation protocols within hospitals, particularly in high-density areas where infectious diseases are prevalent. The movie depicts how a virus can spread from person to person, especially when isolation protocols are not strictly followed. The scene where a small shard of glass punctures someone’s suit and causes an infection is particularly accurate. In real life, such incidents would necessitate quarantine and treatment protocols.
Conclusion
Pandemics are a popular subject for movies and TV shows, but their portrayal in fictional works is often far from accurate. This transcript has analysed various clips from such entertainment and highlighted the accuracies and general inaccuracies in the depiction of pandemics. It concludes by emphasizing the difference between fiction and reality and underscoring the importance of the measures taken to prevent disease outbreaks from becoming global pandemics.
