Bad Science

Reading Ben Goldacre's book, Bad Science, was such a contrast from the usual books I read. To start off with, it's non-fiction (say what!) Now don't get me wrong, I like a bit of non-fiction every now and then (being a history buff and science enthusiast, it's nice to sink you're teeth into something 'factual' once in a while) but I am, primarily, a fiction fiend. So when I finally sat down to read this book (it's been on my book shelf for like three years now!) I was pleasantly surprised. It's brilliant!

First things first: Goldacre is hilarious! His book is about science (which you have probably noticed from the title, I'm just stating the obvious) and the terrible stuff people are willing to believe about science when they don't have any reliable evidence to support their claims. In the book, he discusses topics such as the ridiculousness of homeopathy, pointless diet fads, and how good the media is at distorting science facts. He backs up all his points with cold hard evidence, but tells it all in a funny way which appeals to both the science-y and not so science-y ones among us. Even though he is an exceptionally witty writer, Goldacre never shies away from the message of his book: people need to demand to see the evidence behind scientific claims, look at things with a more critical eye, and to stop believing in things just because it's written down somewhere!

As a science major, I've always appreciated the ability to question things and to not take everything at face value. I find it important to research things and to look at several sources in order to get the big picture. And if one source contradicts another, I don't throw it in the bin, I try to find out why it is contradictory and what this adds to my perception of the 'bigger picture'. This all just seems logical to me, so why doesn't everybody else do it? That, I think, is what's so scary about this book: the fact that there are people out there who just believe in everything they read and they don't think for themselves! That may make me sound a little naive. I know that not everyone is like me (I'm a huge nerd and I'm aware of it) but reading some kind of 'science fact' in a crappy newspaper and believing it wholeheartedly just seems beyond ridiculous. And more importantly, how do these crappy newspapers, like the Daily Mail, get away with telling people that things such as aspirin and honey cause cancer! (Take a look at this video from one of my favourite comedians, Russell Howard, to see what else the Daily Mail claims causes cancer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFfWykH05Gw)

One final comment about Bad Science...One of the most shocking things about the book were the chapters on how scientists and pharmaceutical companies 'fiddle' with data (they don't necessarily make numbers up, but they get rid of evidence that does not support their claim and that's almost the same kind of thing) so that they can sell their products. This is so ethically wrong and it makes me furious! These are the people who are testing medicines and supplying them to us, but they don't actually care if these drugs make us better or not as long as they're filling their pockets!

I do realise that this has been my most angry post thus far. This is just a topic that is close to my heart and this book has given me a lot to think about! I hope that this blog post has encouraged you to continue being (or start being) critical about the things you read, science related or otherwise.

Frankenstein

I read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for one of my literature courses last year and I wasn't very impressed by it. So when it cropped up as reading material for a different class I'm taking this year, I jumped at the chance to try it again and to hopefully change my opinion of it.

Unfortunately that didn't happen exactly as I would have liked it to. I still dislike it as a whole, but I think reading it a second time around has allowed me to notice things I didn't notice before, and thus I can safely say that I appreciate it a lot more (you don't have to like something to appreciate it do you?)

My main issue with this book is the writing style. I feel like Shelley writes really slowly. That probably doesn't make much sense to you, so let me try to explain what I mean...
The concept of the plot (a mad scientist creates a terrible monster and shit goes down as the body count goes up!) initially sounds so exciting. However, it takes so long to get to the juicy, exciting bits that by the time we reach them, they don't pack a punch and I've lost interest. During the novel the monster kills some of the characters (should have warned you, but *spoiler alert*) and even that didn't feel as exciting as it should have! We, as the reader, do not experience the killing from the monster's point of view, we only hear about it from the narrator. That was disappointing for me because I really wanted to see them! (What does that say about me I wonder?) But I guess that since the narrator wasn't there, we are not either. The novel is often labelled as a gothic horror story, and so as I was reading it I really expected (and wanted) to feel scared, but it just fell a little flat.

Yet saying all that, as I read the novel a second time I was able to notice, and pay more attention to, the social commentary that Shelley provides. One of the main themes of the novel is technology and the abuse of it. Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, is obsessed with the pursuit of knowledge (remind you of anyone...Faust perhaps?) He is fueled by his own pride and personal gain. He can not see the consequences of creating such a monster until it is too late. Maybe we can see some parallels between how Victor uses science and technology in the novel and the way we use it now? Many people feel that science today has gone too far. It defies and manipulates the laws of nature into things that are obscene, just like Frankenstein does when he creates life. Perhaps Shelley is warning us against getting too carried away with our desire to control and manipulate the natural world and the natural order of things. Otherwise Frankenstein's downfall could be our own...

And with that dark thought, I shall end this blog entry. Until next time!

The Picture of Dorian Gray

I read Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray for the first time a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. I read it again last week and was reminded with why I fell in love with it in the first place!

To start with, it's so wonderfully written. Wilde's writing style is so fluid and elegant, it's such a pleasure to read. And the story itself is so gripping! Young and beautiful Dorian Gray accidentally (and unwillingly) sells his soul so that he can stay young and beautiful forever. Instead, a portrait of him absorbs and reflects all his wrong doings. Dorian uses this to his advantage and begins to experience things of a more unseemly nature (particularly for a 19th century audience). Before long the portrait looks demonic and is forever tainted, whilst Dorian remains looking pure and never ages, but he is far from innocent!

The novel primarily addresses the theme of aestheticism. Within the narrative, Wilde touches upon the absurdity of beauty, as well as how destructive it can be. The novel also contains Faustian elements; Dorian surrenders his moral integrity in order to live a life of pure pleasure, with little disregard for others. The character of Lord Henry represents the Devil of Faustian mythology. It is Lord Henry who encourages Dorian to act on his impulses and desires without fear of consequence. He corrupts Dorian's initial purity and innocence by tempting him into a life of hedonism.

The development of Dorian's character allows the reader to be sucked into his world. We are able to witness his corruption and destruction which keeps us gripped in the narrative. Wilde is very good at causing readers to simultaneously sympathise with Dorian (because it is clear that Lord Henry manipulates him) and yet hate him at the same time (because he has little disregard for other people.) And it is this aspect of the novel, in my opinion, which makes it so unbelievably great!

Since I have always found Wilde to be so very witty and enlightened, I thought I would end this blog post with some of my favourite quotes from the novel:

• “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
• “Never marry at all, Dorian. Men marry because they are tired, women, because they are curious: both are disappointed.”
• “Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different.”
• “Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.”
• “Some things are more precious because they don't last long."
• “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” 

Hopefully they've inspired you to give the book a go!