Terminal Men: Biotechnological Experimentation and the Reshaping of "the Human" in Medical Thrillers

Pethes, Nicolas

doi:10.1353/nlh.2005.0036

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…They have, for example, examined the ways in which fictional media provide inaccurate representations of science and medicine ( Collee, 1999 ; Kirby, 2003 ; Manfredini, 1999 ) and also shape the public’s understanding of and engagement with science ( Bourdaa et al, 2013 ; Dudo et al, 2010 ; Stilgoe, Lock, & Wilsdon, 2014 ; Van Den Bulck, 2002 ; Van Riper, 2003 ). Alongside such concerns with ‘factual accuracy’, researchers have also examined the ways in which fictional media produce narratives about science and medicine through, inter alia , the collective framings of bioethics ( Chambers, 2001 ; Montello, 2005 ); broader social concerns about humanity in a changing scientific landscape ( Lynteris, 2016 ; Nerlich, Clarke, & Dingwall, 2001 ; Pethes, 2005 ; Wald, 2008 ); and the portrayal and communication of risk ( Mairal, 2011 ; Nerlich, Clarke, & Dingwall, 2000 ). As Foucault (2002) has argued, texts play an active role in shaping and constructing reality, so fictional media provide more than mere representation or expression of collective concerns.…”

Section: Media Risk and Emotionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From fantasy to reality: managing biomedical risk emotions in and through fictional media

Cottingham

Fisher

2017

Health, Risk & Society

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In this article, we explore the role that fictional media (film and television) play in evoking and managing collective and individual anxieties towards biomedical research. We draw on two data sets: fictional media depictions of human research subjects and interviews with Phase I clinical trial participants conducted in the USA in 2013. We show how fictional media provide an outlet for collective uncertainties surrounding biomedical research through depictions that mock and dehumanise research participants, using such emotions of shock, disgust, pity, amusement and humour. We analyse how themes from fictional media are also used to manage actual clinical trial participants’ own anxiety concerning the unknown risks of research participation. By contrasting the reality of their research experience with fantasy derived from entertainment media, clinical trial participants minimise the seriousness of the side effects they have or may experience in actual Phase I clinical trials. We conclude that fictional media serve an important role in the collective and individual management of risk emotion.

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Section: Media Risk and Emotionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From fantasy to reality: managing biomedical risk emotions in and through fictional media

Cottingham

Fisher

2017

Health, Risk & Society

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“…Likewise, Michael Crichton's novel The Terminal Man raises fear of a technology that has potential to become a threat to humanity. Even though this novel is about artificial intelligence, the issues raised are similar to biotechnology and may have influence on the debate of the latter (Pethes 2005). These novels present hypothetical situations which may allow inclusive and contextualize debates and later can be used as a tool in developing robust guidelines (Delgado et al 2012).…”

Section: Bioethics In the Malay Science Fiction Novelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The novel gives insights into their concerns and informs public dialogue on many issues (Nathan 2013). Given that genetic enhancement technologies are still largely the domain of science fiction, such novels provide speculative imagination or thought experiments on these technologies, including their ethical and social implications through the rich narratives of the settings, characters, and actions (Van Dijck 1999;Pethes 2005;Smart 2012). By using their imagination about the future, the authors express their hope and fear of science and technology in science fiction novels (Bova 1974;Brem and Anijar 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethical Concerns About Human Genetic Enhancement in the Malay Science Fiction Novels

Isa

Shuri

2017

Sci Eng Ethics

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Advancements in science and technology have not only brought hope to humankind to produce disease-free offspring, but also offer possibilities to genetically enhance the next generation's traits and capacities. Human genetic enhancement, however, raises complex ethical questions, such as to what extent should it be allowed? It has been a great challenge for humankind to develop robust ethical guidelines for human genetic enhancement that address both public concerns and needs. We believe that research about public concerns is necessary prior to developing such guidelines, yet the issues have not been thoroughly investigated in many countries, including Malaysia. Since the novel often functions as a medium for the public to express their concerns, this paper explores ethical concerns about human genetic enhancement expressed in four Malay science fiction novels namely Klon, Leksikon Ledang, Transgenesis Bisikan Rimba and Transgenik Sifar. Religion has a strong influence on the worldview of the Malays therefore some concerns such as playing God are obviously religious. Association of the negative image of scientists as well as the private research companies with the research on human genetic enhancement reflects the authors' concerns about the main motivations for conducting such research and the extent to which such research will benefit society.

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“…Some narratives on biotechnology, such as those of HeLa, rats with human ears, hybrid pigs or cows with our DNA, make us imagine a world full of absurdities [90][91][92][93] . It is almost the equivalent of dystopia or horror fiction, a branch of literature constituted more systematically after the 19th century 94,95 .…”

Section: The Intermittencies Of the Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Intermittencies of Life: An Analysis of Longevity in Tales of Biotechnology

Rodrigues

Leibing²,

Saint-Hilaire³

2016

BJMHH

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Stem cells are fundamental devices of biomedical practice based on the notion that the body is able to supply the medication necessary to prolong life. Consequently, the concept of biotechnological autonomy is formulated, which is important for our analysis of longevity, an analogy to the analysis of fi niteness. In this paper, discourses were evaluated in which these practices are interpreted as “technologies of hope” or “of longevity”, stem cells being the means by which the biosciences promise to postpone death and control various diseases. We have sought to show how a mentality of aging and decrepitude is being overcome by the idea of longevity, forged by technologies that aim to recover the embryonic atavism of rebirth.

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Terminal Men: Biotechnological Experimentation and the Reshaping of "the Human" in Medical Thrillers

Cited by 15 publications

References 29 publications

From fantasy to reality: managing biomedical risk emotions in and through fictional media

From fantasy to reality: managing biomedical risk emotions in and through fictional media

Ethical Concerns About Human Genetic Enhancement in the Malay Science Fiction Novels

The Intermittencies of Life: An Analysis of Longevity in Tales of Biotechnology

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