Cinematic Prophylaxis : Globalization and Contagion in the Discourse of World Health

A timely contribution to the fields of film history, visual cultures, and globalization studies, __Cinematic Prophylaxis__ provides essential historical information about how the representation of biological contagion has affected understandings of the origins and vectors of disease. Kirsten Ostherr tracks visual representations of the contamination of bodies across a range of media, including 1940s public health films; entertainment films such as 1950s alien invasion movies and the 1995 blockbuster __Outbreak__; television programs in the 1980s, during the early years of the aids epidemic; and the cyber-virus plagued Internet. In so doing, she charts the changes—and the alarming continuities—in popular understandings of the connection between pathologized bodies and the global spread of disease.Ostherr presents the first in-depth analysis of the public health films produced between World War II and the 1960s that popularized the ideals of world health and taught viewers to imagine the presence of invisible contaminants all around them. She considers not only the content of specific films but also their techniques for making invisible contaminants visible. By identifying the central aesthetic strategies in films produced by the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, and other institutions, she reveals how ideas about racial impurity and sexual degeneracy underlay messages ostensibly about world health. Situating these films in relation to those that preceded and followed them, Ostherr shows how, during the postwar era, ideas about contagion were explicitly connected to the global circulation of bodies. While postwar public health films embraced the ideals of world health, they invoked a distinct and deeply anxious mode of representing the spread of disease across national borders. A Timely Contribution To The Fields Of Film History, Visual Cultures, And Globalization Studies, Cinematic Prophylaxis Provides Essential Historical Information About How The Representation Of Biological Contagion Has Affected Understandings Of The Origins And Vectors Of Disease. Kirsten Ostherr Tracks Modes Of Visually Representing The Contamination Of Bodies Through A Range Of Media, Including 1940s Public Health Films; Entertainment Films Such As 1950s Alien Invasion Movies And The 1995 Blockbuster Outbreak; Television In The 1980s, During The Early Years Of The Aids Epidemic; And, The Cyber-virus Plagued Internet. In So Doing, She Charts The Changes - And The Alarming Continuities - In Popular Understandings Of The Connection Between Pathologized Bodies And The Global Spread Of Disease. Ostherr Presents The First In-depth Analysis Of The Public Health Films Produced In The Period Between World War Ii And The 1960s That Popularized The Ideals Of World Health And Taught Viewers To Imagine The Presence Of Invisible Contaminants All Around Them. She Examines Not Only The Content Of Specific Films But Also Their Techniques For Making Invisible Contaminants Visible. By Identifying The Central Aesthetic Strategies In Films Produced By The World Health Organization, The Centers For Disease Control, And Other Institutions, She Reveals How Ideas About Racial Impurity And Sexual Degeneracy Underlay Messages Ostensibly About World Health. Situating These Films In Relation To Those That Preceded And Followed Them, Ostherr Shows How During The Postwar Era, Ideas About Contagion Were Explicitly Connected To The Global Circulation Of Bodies. While Postwar Public Health Films Embraced The Ideals Of World Health, They Invoked A Distinct And Deeply Anxious Mode Of Representing The Spread Of Disease Across National Borders. Introduction: Cinema And Hygiene -- Public Sphere As Petri Dish; Or, Special Case Studies Of Motion Picture Theaters Which Are Known Or Suspected To Be Foci Of Moral Infection -- Noninfected But Infectible : Contagion And The Boundaries Of The Visible -- From Inner To Outer Space: World Health And The Postwar Alien Invasion Film -- Conspiracy And Cartography: Mapping Globalization Through Epidemiology -- Indexical Digital : Representing Contagion In The Postphotographic Era. Kirsten Ostherr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 197-248), Filmography (p. 249-258), And Index. A timely contribution to the fields of film history, visual cultures, and globalization studies, Cinematic Prophylaxis provides essential historical information about how the representation of biological contagion has affected understandings of the origins and vectors of disease. Kirsten Ostherr tracks visual representations of the contamination of bodies across a range of media, including 1940s public health films; entertainment films such as 1950s alien invasion movies and the 1995 blockbuster Outbreak ; television programs in the 1980s, during the early years of the aids epidemic; and the cyber-virus plagued Internet. In so doing, she charts the changes—and the alarming continuities—in popular understandings of the connection between pathologized bodies and the global spread of disease. Ostherr presents the first in-depth analysis of the public health films produced between World War II and the 1960s that popularized the ideals of world health and taught viewers to imagine the presence of invisible contaminants all around them. She considers not only the content of specific films but also their techniques for making invisible contaminants visible. By identifying the central aesthetic strategies in films produced by the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, and other institutions, she reveals how ideas about racial impurity and sexual degeneracy underlay messages ostensibly about world health. Situating these films in relation to those that preceded and followed them, Ostherr shows how, during the postwar era, ideas about contagion were explicitly connected to the global circulation of bodies. While postwar public health films embraced the ideals of world health, they invoked a distinct and deeply anxious mode of representing the spread of disease across national borders. Contents 8 Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction: Cinema and Hygiene 14 1 Public Sphere as Petri Dish; 31 2 ‘‘Noninfected but Infectible’’: 60 3 From Inner to Outer Space: 92 4 Conspiracy and Cartography: 134 5 Indexical Digital: 168 Conclusion 205 Notes 210 Bibliography 238 Filmography 262 Index 272