Pragmatics of Scientific Communication in Don't Look Up Adam McKay, 2021

The article deals with the film Don't Look Up (Adam McKay, 2021) attending to the agents of scientific communication that it represents. Firstly, the relationship of cinema with science and pragmatics is highlighted, to later study several characters identified as: scientists, the tecological producer, the communicator, the politician, and citizenship. A previous model of pragmatic obligations is used for the analysis, as well as a general one focused on pragmatic categories. The interactions observed between the agents are reflected in a relationship map. The results point to the scientist as the most likely to fulfill the obligations that link him to the truth, pointing to political power and the role of the producer-technology as the least related to it. The communicator and citizenship are generally partially fulfilling their respective obligations. In addition, all roles show problems with communicating the truth except for two scientists, and finally, it highlights the powerful influence of political power in the administration of truth.

Automated summary

The article examines the representation of scientific communicators in the film Don't Look Up (Adam McKay, 2021). It analyzes the relationships between cinema, science, and pragmatics, and focuses on the roles of scientists, technological producers, communicators, politicians, and citizens. The study uses a model of pragmatic obligations to analyze the interactions between these agents and presents the findings in a relationship map. The results suggest that scientists are more likely to fulfill their obligations to the truth, while political power and producer-technology have a weaker connection to it. Communicators and citizens generally only partially fulfill their respective obligations. Furthermore, except for two scientists, all roles face challenges in effectively communicating the truth, and the influence of political power on truth administration is highlighted.