Monday, November 07, 2005
Business, Science, and Nature
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) is one of the best science fiction films ever, and it relates well to my discussion. It starts with the Big Bang, continues through Earth’s primordial, ocean-filling rains, and takes us over the upper reaches of the Amazon, where nothing has changed for millions of years. The characters engage in many small scientific discussions, and when an expedition is put together to travel up the Amazon in search of fossils, it is composed mainly of scientists (and one chick in a bathing suit), no workers. Besides being highly entertaining, I think it is the ultimate science film, and embodies most of the hopes and fears of the 1950s.
When they discover that the Creature exists, Richard Denning, who runs a scientific institute, wants to capture him and bring him back to civilization. Denning knows that such a catch would bring him fame and fortune. Richard Carlson, who works for him, is a dedicated scientist who doesn’t care about money and only wants to study the Creature. When the Creature kills several people and seems on the verge of completely wiping out the expedition, Carlson only wants to escape with his life and the lives of his companions, while Denning still only wants to capture the Creature for profit.
It is a classic confrontation, really, between Business, Science and Nature. Business tries to exploit the Creature, in much the same way as King Kong was exploited. Science struggles against Business to protect the Creature. Anybody see any parallels between the film and biotechnology today? Me neither. (Well, maybe some.) Instead of being adversaries, as in the film, Business, Science and Academe today have all formed alliances to subjugate and patent nature, largely for profit. The only voices speaking out on nature’s behalf are few and relatively weak. What’s to become of all this? Who knows? But I’m not optimistic. Can anything be done about the situation today? I doubt it. Business is more persistent than were Denning and Carlson. There’s a lot more money at stake now than there was then.
In the film, nature wins, this time. The only victory for Business? The Creature is undefeated, both in the film and at the box office, which prompted two successful sequels. Now that’s a happy ending.
When they discover that the Creature exists, Richard Denning, who runs a scientific institute, wants to capture him and bring him back to civilization. Denning knows that such a catch would bring him fame and fortune. Richard Carlson, who works for him, is a dedicated scientist who doesn’t care about money and only wants to study the Creature. When the Creature kills several people and seems on the verge of completely wiping out the expedition, Carlson only wants to escape with his life and the lives of his companions, while Denning still only wants to capture the Creature for profit.
It is a classic confrontation, really, between Business, Science and Nature. Business tries to exploit the Creature, in much the same way as King Kong was exploited. Science struggles against Business to protect the Creature. Anybody see any parallels between the film and biotechnology today? Me neither. (Well, maybe some.) Instead of being adversaries, as in the film, Business, Science and Academe today have all formed alliances to subjugate and patent nature, largely for profit. The only voices speaking out on nature’s behalf are few and relatively weak. What’s to become of all this? Who knows? But I’m not optimistic. Can anything be done about the situation today? I doubt it. Business is more persistent than were Denning and Carlson. There’s a lot more money at stake now than there was then.
In the film, nature wins, this time. The only victory for Business? The Creature is undefeated, both in the film and at the box office, which prompted two successful sequels. Now that’s a happy ending.
