Jensen, Eric. (2008) The Dao of human cloning : utopian/dystopian hype in the British press and popular films. Public Understanding of Science, Vol.17 (no.2). pp. 123-143. ISSN 0963-6625

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Abstract

The issue of human cloning has featured in the national science policy agendas in both the United States and the United Kingdom since the announcement in 1997 of Dolly the cloned sheep's birth in Scotland. Such news stories suggesting the imminent cloning of humans have inspired fictional entertainment media over the years, including numerous popular films. Study 1 examines elite British press coverage of human cloning from 1997 to 2004 (n = 857). Study 2 focuses on five human cloning films released between 1978 and 2003. Two sharply divergent discourses emerged from these data. Unqualified hope and habitually hyped claims of future cures permeated the press discourse. In contrast, the films constructed human cloning as an inherently dangerous technology often wielded by hubristic scientists in the tradition of Frankenstein. Both the predominately positive hype in the broadsheet press and the largely negative hype in the films indicate an impoverished and “thin” public debate on the issue of human cloning.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1993 Motion Pictures
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology
Journal or Publication Title:	Public Understanding of Science
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:	0963-6625
Date:	April 2008
Volume:	Vol.17
Number:	no.2
Page Range:	pp. 123-143
Identification Number:	10.1177/0963662506065874
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/43092

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