Here we have it now, pretty much formalized. We spotted the pattern last November in our first test screenings of non-science friends in Hollywood vs. scientist friends. As the Sizzle Tuesday reviews popped up, Chad Orzel noted it among the Science Bloggers. Then Chris Mooney identified the pattern and editorialized on it. Now we can look at the reviews of the most authoritative voice in the science world, Nature, versus the most authoritative voice in the entertainment world, Variety. The divide is almost exactly the same. The former says the “comedy falls flat,” the latter raves about the comedy and calls the movie “ingenious.” This is not a fluke. If you’re willing to look at both sides with an open mind, there are things to be learned here about the mass communication of science in today’s world.
Nature vs. Variety: disappointment vs. applause