Humanity is no stranger to the real-life threat posed by viral epidemics and pandemics, from the medieval bubonic plagues that claimed possibly 50 million people, about 25% to 60% of the European population; the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic that killed some 50 million people worldwide, more than were killed in WW1; the SARS and influenza H1N1-2009 or Swine Flu outbreak in the early 2000’s, Ebola, and of course the current worrying Coronavirus or Covid-19 Virus which is now firmly embedded within our constant 24/7 continuous multi media & multi platform news cycles.
Despite our collective complacency, I suspect that each of us have always harbored a fear in the back of our minds that the human race would eventually have to contend with a viral or microbial pandemic of calamitous proportions. This is not to say that the current crisis would reach that level of threat.
Global pandemics have also become a staple of science fiction based in varying degrees of accuracy on science fact and historical occurrences. Not surprisingly, film depictions of global pandemics have frequently taken off in some rather strange and fantastic directions with extreme worst-case scenarios being a necessary part of the formula. The viewing audience comes to expect the usual round of the ever increasing spread of rumors and panic, society gradually sliding off the rails, draconian quarantines being imposed, widespread outbreaks of looting and pillaging and so on.
Film depictions of such doomsday scenarios have probably colored our perceptions of actual epidemics and pandemics to some degree. Just the idea of being susceptible to infection from invisible viruses and bacteria taking over our bodies creates a sense of panic, uncertainty and helplessness. Science fiction movies will of course emphasize the entertainment value of depicting worst-case doomsday scenarios and it is not surprising that such fictional representations could shape our perceptions of real-life events.
Still, I’ve yet to see a film depiction of people fighting over rolls of toilet paper in a supermarket! Reality can be a lot stranger than fiction……
I guess panic buying and hoarding might be explained as people attempting to gain a measure of control through taking some kind of action in the face of events that seem to be beyond the individual person’s control. Either that or some people are just plain stupid!
Some science fiction films (Zombie films excluded!) featuring viral epidemics and pandemics include;
The Andromeda Strain (1971) is adapted from a Michael Crichton novel in which a team of scientists race against time to destroy a deadly alien virus that threatens to wipe out life on Earth.
Plague (1979): A deadly bacteria called M3 escapes from a laboratory and causes sickness and death around the world. A scientist works tirelessly to develop an antidote to stop the contagion.
The Stand (1994 miniseries): A human-engineered variant of Super flu escapes from a lab and wipes out almost the entire world population.
Outbreak (1995): An airborne “Motaba” virus is inadvertently smuggled into the US from Africa via an infected monkey, requiring a team of doctors to race against time in an effort to save a town where the infection is spreading. A strong military response is employed to quarantine the affected area.
12 Monkeys (1995): A post-apocalyptic future world has been ravaged by an unnamed virus. Human survivors who live underground can't use medicine to develop a vaccine or antiviral cure, but instead resort to time travel to prevent the original outbreak.
Contagion (2011): A pandemic begins when a woman returns to Minnesota with a strange illness after a trip to Hong Kong. Within days, she dies and then others begin exhibiting the same symptoms as the outbreak spreads across the world. This film eerily parallels the current emerging Covid-19 scenario!
Containment (2015): In a 1970s-era housing council block in Weston, Southampton in present-day United Kingdom, artist Mark wakes to find that he has been sealed into his flat with no way out. There is no electricity, no water and no communications with the outside world. There is only a voice over the intercom that repeats the phrase, "please remain calm, the situation is under control." All that can be seen from the flat are people in Hazmat suits who patrol the grounds outside near a newly erected medical testing tent. Mark teams up with several residents in an attempt to find out what is going on and hopefully find a way out of their prison.
There are many more movies like the ones mentioned above. Apart from their entertainment value, they are somewhat useful in terms of the issues they raise and the insights they may provide in terms of;
- The nature and origin of viral and microbial outbreaks.
- Possible means of transmission and spread.
- Effects on individuals and communities.
- Consequences for society.
- Medical and political responses.
- Possible reactions of individuals and communities to crisis.
We cannot let fictional representations of potentially disastrous occurrences determine our responses to them. Nor will conspiracy theories and social media rumor-mongering and the panic they help to foster help us cope with present and future pandemics. Only factual information, expert informed opinion, scientific and medical breakthroughs, responsible political leadership, effective communication and mutual support will ensure that our species will not succumb to a pandemic while clutching a prized precious packet of toilet paper to its breast......
©Chris Christopoulos 2020
