Cinematizing Immunity: The Rhetorical Effects of Science Fiction in the Public Communication of Science
Abstract
The rise of science fiction and computer-generated imaging (CGI) technology have borne increasingly realistic visuals of both “science” and “fiction,” often in the form of science documentaries. Scholarship about using these documentaries for public education is inconclusive. This article furthers research in this area by rhetorically analyzing the BBC’s 2012 CGI documentary, Our Secret Universe: Hidden Life of the Cell. By communicating immunology through science fiction, Secret Universe illustrates that such an approach, although appealing, may also harbor undesirable outcomes and promote harmful ideals, especially when viewed in the context of global pandemics such as H1N1 and COVID-19.
Author Biography
Yizhuo Yang is an Economics and Business major at Emory University. After graduating in 2025, he plans to attend graduate school and continue pursuing his interests in Psychology, communication, and management.
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