Superhero adventures and the representation of science: a historical look at film adaptations of The Incredible Hulk during the 1970s and 2000s

Silva Filho, Fernando Alves da; Massarani, Luisa; Stengler, Erik

doi:10.1590/S0104-59702021000400005

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ANALYSIS • Hist. cienc. saude-Manguinhos 28 (4) • Oct-Dec 2021 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-59702021000400005 copy

Superhero adventures and the representation of science: a historical look at film adaptations of The Incredible Hulk during the 1970s and 2000s

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Film productions offer different representations of science and scientists. This study investigates how science and scientists are represented in superhero adventure narratives, particularly in The Incredible Hulk films. Four films were analyzed: two from the 1970s, when the first movies portraying this superhero were released, and two from the early twenty-first century as the Marvel Cinematic Universe expanded and superhero movies were frequent blockbusters. The specific goal was to examine how representations of science and scientists in the Hulk films have changed over time.

superhero adventures; science communication; scientific culture; superheroes; social representation

	Representation of scientists
	Man				Woman
Film release year	1977	1978	2003	2008	1977	1978	2003	2008
Number of scientists	3	2	3	2	1*	1	1*	1*
Number of classic stereotypes (Haynes, jul. 2003; Flicker, 2003FLICKER, Eva. Between Brains and Breasts – Women Scientists in Fiction Film: On the Marginalization and Sexualization of Scientific Competence. Public Understanding of Science, n.12, p.307-318, 2003.)	4				3

	Overview of the presence of scientists in the four films
	Film running time (minutes)	Presence of scientists (minutes)	Presence of scientists (percent)	Presence of scientists (numbers)
Movie 1	94	86	91	4
Movie 2	97	92	94	3
Movie 3	138	101	73	4
Movie 4	112	82	73	3
Total	441	361	82	14

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[TFN1001] Source: prepared by the authors.

The mad scientist	A researcher outside the bounds of society; arrogant, reserved, and dangerous. Obsessed with the search for power in his research, ignores norms and social relationships. Unpredictable, determined to transcend human limits to the point of causing destruction with his experiments and research.
The helpless scientist	The victim of his own discoveries, he refuses to predict or accept responsibility for the disastrous results of his research. He ignores the likely sociological effects, hiding and redirecting his failures to avoid discovery and losing concessions and benefits.
The foolish scientist	Comical, bumbling inventor. Parodies are used to present the concept of the scientist as superior to ordinary people. Not malevolent but not harmless; even though his inventions are genius and revolutionary, they have disastrous consequences.
The inhuman researcher	Can be based on real, modern people with scientific credibility who work with science, society, and relationships. However, they are robotic, non-human, and obsessive, unable to have lasting relationships, and portrayed with different levels of understanding and empathy.
The scientist as adventurer	Active and working in the field, he is involved in activities that extend beyond science. An inventor, researcher, and traveler who transcends the limitations of the physical world, he solves mysteries, and bravely and strongly faces adversity with optimism and reverence for scientific knowledge.
The noble scientist, as a hero or savior of society	Seen as an essential ally in remediating nature and defending social causes; he invents new methods and technologies to save the lives of downtrodden families. This selfless, well-intentioned scientist is often presented as a warrior in environmental struggles, educating society about the dangers perpetrated on the planet and its creatures.

The old maid	Female character who always seems to lack a balance between professional life and love; the more professionally competent she is, the less attractive. As this character undergoes a physical transformation, her professional skills gradually diminish until they are entirely ignored.
The male woman	An assertive, tough woman with male behavioral traits, especially bad habits (unhealthy sleep patterns, smoking, drinking, taking pills, and other addictions associated with masculinity). Professionally, no matter how good she is she is not depicted as superior to male characters, and has no feminine charms or sex appeal. The feminine values attributed to this character are intuition and emotional connections in relation to scientific themes.
The naive expert	A young, good-looking woman with a promising scientific career. But her innocence, naivete, and feminine emotions are characterized as weaknesses, and this character always ends up in complicated situations where only one male character can save her.
The evil plotter	A young and attractive character, but with a dark, selfish, and unscrupulous hidden side. The polar opposite of the innocent expert.
The daughter or assistant	Always in an unequal relationship with a more experienced or more important male partner. The male partner is the main star and is the central role in the plot; the female character is there only to offer assistance in “minor” matters. No matter how good the scientific qualifications of this character, she is subordinated and acts as a bridge between complex science and society.
The lonely heroine	She is recognized as a competent scientist in her area, and adopts aspects of the male inhuman researcher, since her life is entirely based on and defined by her professional career and scientific research. She has no family responsibilities (even if she has a family, work is more important), and is completely unconcerned with emotional and esthetic issues generally considered feminine. She is not an “old lady” or “male woman” in terms of appearance (she is young, attractive, modern, self-sufficient, and scientifically capable), but is still presented as having a disadvantage compared to male characters.

General characteristics; characters and actors	Movie name
	Director
	Year
	Main actors
	Running time
Representation of scientists; content and representation	Presence of the scientist character
	Scientist's area of activity
	Scientist's gender
	Where scientists appear
	Scientist's age range
	Scientist's skin color
	Scientist's physical attributes
	Classic stereotypes (Flicker, 2003FLICKER, Eva. Between Brains and Breasts – Women Scientists in Fiction Film: On the Marginalization and Sexualization of Scientific Competence. Public Understanding of Science, n.12, p.307-318, 2003.; Haynes, jul. 2003)
Narrative/drama; characteristics and esthetics	Frames
	Symbols of research
	Symbols of knowledge
	Indications of danger
	Indications of secrecy
Representation of science; content and representation; context	Does the film explain any scientific concepts or terms?
	Does the film address controversies (scientific or otherwise)?
	Does the film mention concrete benefits of science?
	Does the film mention promises of science?
	Does the film mention concrete damage from science?
	Does the film mention potential risks from science?
	Does the film make recommendations to viewers?
	Does the film offer context information?
	Does the film present science as a collective activity?