UNIT 5: Pseudoscience 19th and 20th century Monsters

Question 1

What is pseudoscience?

Answer 1

a belief or practice falsely regarded as being based on the Scientific Method. comes from Greek and Latin roots of pseudo (Greek) meaning false and Science (Latin) meaning Knowledge

Question 2

Why did Eugenics become popular?

Answer 2

it became popular in the late 19th century with the publishing of Darwin’s theory of evolution (1859), colonialism, and the rise of the social sciences.

Question 3

What is a genotype? What is a Phenotype?

Answer 3

Genotype: An organism’ genetic makeup
Phenotype: An organism’s physical appearance

Question 4

Who coined the science of Eugenics?

Answer 4

Francis Galton (Darwin’s half cousin)

Question 5

What is Eugenics?

Answer 5

The Selection of desired heritable characteristics in order to improve future generations.

Question 6

What was Eugenics main goal?

Answer 6

The self direction of human evolution, To end human suffering

Question 7

Give some examples of how the eugenics movement influenced America?

Answer 7

• led to many of the strict marriage and anti-immigration laws made at the turn of the 19th century
• Organizations like the Race Betterment Foundation and the American Breeder’s Association were created
• Eugenics Record Office was established to supposedly track families and their traits
• led to the notorious practice of forced sterilizations.

Question 8

Give some examples of how the eugenics movement influenced other countries?

Answer 8

• Japan: Eugenic Protection Law of 1948 to manage the country’s population under the guise of the vague “racial hygiene.”
• Australia: the Stolen Generations, the removal of children of aboriginal or mixed indigenous descent from their families to white Australian families (as a form of civilizing) between 1905-1960.
• Brazil: “politica de Branqueamento” or whitening policy.

Question 9

What is Science Fiction?

Answer 9

any type of literature that incorporates science, technology and/or futuristic worlds or scenarios. Often speculating on what could be possible with science and technology through space or time travel. they often address current, real-world issues of the time in which they are produced.

Question 10

Name Two Pioneers of Science Fiction

Answer 10

Jules Verne and H.G. Wells

Question 11

What is the dystopian genre?

Answer 11

often portrays futuristic, oppressive societies that though they seem perfect on the outside, are quite sinister because of totalitarian control. depict worst-case scenarios such as societal collapse, in order to often critique a current system of the time that it is produced.

Question 12

What Novel blends science and dystopian fiction?

Answer 12

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

Question 13

Name some films which had Eugenic influences

Answer 13

• Frankenstein (1931)
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• The Island of Lost Souls (1933)