Geosciences in Italian and International television and film fiction: a study on dramaturgy, semiotics, and ethics of narrative models

Abstract

This study analyses the representation of the geosciences in Italian and international audiovisual fiction, investigating how films and television series contribute to shaping public perceptions of science, natural hazards, and scientific institutions from an ethical perspective. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach that integrates Media Studies, semiotics, ethics, and the sociology of science, the study examines a corpus of Italian and international productions spanning from the twentieth century to the present day.
The research is intended as both a methodological and an exploratory contribution, proposing a framework for the analysis of the geosciences in audiovisual fiction and illustrating its application through selected case studies.
The findings reveal a significant evolution in narrative models: from the Hollywood tradition, characterized by catastrophism and the figure of the isolated “Cassandra scientist,” to more realistic and institutionally grounded representations in recent Italian productions. Contemporary films and television series increasingly portray the geoscientist as a “competent hero,” closely connected to local communities and actively engaged in disaster risk prevention, communication, and management.
The study also explores how these narratives may shape the ethics of public engagement with science, contributing to bridge the gap between the scientific community and society while redefining the cultural role of the geosciences in the Anthropocene. Through a dramaturgical and semiotic analysis of selected films and television series, the study argues that contemporary Italian narratives humanize scientists, promote a culture of prevention, and frame disasters as shared social and cultural challenges rather than as inevitable consequences of natural hazards.
This work lays the foundation for future research on the role of audiovisual narratives in fostering prevention, strengthening the ethical communication of geoscientific knowledge, and enhancing dialogue between science and society.