Can Movies Inspire Kids To Be Future Scientists? 298
Hugh Pickens writes "MSNBC reports on a recent panel that discussed studies showing that people, especially children, often model their behavior on what they see on the big (or small) screen and science shows up in many Hollywood films. In fact, 22 of the 60 top-grossing movies of all time are science-fiction or superhero flicks, including history's No. 1 box office hit, Avatar. The movie science doesn't even have to be entirely accurate, some of the panelists added when asked to consider the role and impact of science in cinema. As long as it plants a seed of curiosity in viewers, it may spur them to investigate scientific issues on their own — and perhaps consider a career in science down the road. 'It's not an educational medium, it's an emotional medium,' says Seth Shostak, an astronomer with the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif. 'Kids get turned on by the emotion.' Interestingly enough although movies work hard to get the science right, many make errors ranging from the understandable to the egregious, but that's ok, say the panelists. 'Even if a film or media product is not very accurate, that becomes a teaching moment,' says Arvind Singhal. 'So there's room for everything.'"
Re:The problem in the US... (Score:4, Interesting)
Um, if you mean Charo, she is actually an amazingly talented flamenco guitarist.
While you are completely correct in this, however, it is not why she is a celebrity nor what she is primarily known for. I hesitated before including here, but decided she belonged solely because the vast majority of her public appearances have nothing to do with guitar, and many people who know who she is don't even know that she is a very good guitarist. To quote wikipedia: best known for her flamboyant stage presence, her provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase ("cuchi-cuchi").
I knew she played and have heard her many times, it was a judgement call. Basically, if she didn't have a giant rack and yell "cuchi cuchi", you likely would never had heard her play guitar, as she is pretty good, but not good enough to obtain celebrity for that alone. But technically, she *does* have an worthwhile talent, granted.