Assignment:
Microbes in the Movies
Each student will watch 1 movie that has a large portion of the plotline centered on an infectious agent (virus, bacteria, etc.). Alternatively, you may choose to read 1 book instead of a movie. Please check your choice with me if you are unsure if it would work for this assignment.
Some Good Suggestions:
Movies-
? Contagion
? Andromeda Strain
? And the Band Played On
? The Painted Veil
? Outbreak
? A large variety of zombie movies, some more gory than others...
o Last Man on Earth/Omega Man/I am Legend (same story)
o 28 Days Later
o World War Z
Books-
? I Contain Multitudes by Ed Young
? Hot Zone by Richard Preston
? The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston
? The Plague by Albert Camus
What are you turning in?
You are turning in a full 2+ page, double spaced, 1 inch margin, 12 pt font of Arial or Times New Roma, typed review. Please answer the following:
1. Microbe in the Movie. Tell me the infectious agent and if it was real or fictional or perhaps something real that had been altered to become some superbug.
2. What did the people do? Give me a SHORT summary of the plotline. One to three sentences.
3. What science was involved in the film? Were there any scientists shown and what were they doing?
4. From what you know about Microbiology, was the science correct or was there a lot of creative license involved? Explain why you think some of the science might actually happen and why some things most definitely would not. Remember that movies and novels are supposed to be entertaining, so it is ok if they don't get everything right. But show off what you know and pick it apart.
5. Rate your movie on a scale of 1-5 bacteria. Why did you love or hate it?