Communicating Science with Anthropomorphism--Examples from Japan
Anthropomorphism, or the attribution of human characteristics to non-human animals or inanimate objects, is commonplace in many cultures of the world, but is particularly prominent and pervasive in Japan.Talking furniture on childrens TV, city government vegetable mascots, an animated letter e to promote online tax returns-there seems to be no limit to what can be anthropomorphized, and no corner of the culture where it is considered out of place.This of course includes efforts to communicate science, where we can find test tube narrators,angry viruses, friendly elements, and a whole lot more.Scientists, on the other hand, are less enthusiastic about anthropomorphism in scientific discussions and tend to consider it as inaccurate and unscientific.In science, thinking or communicating in anthropomorphic terms is generally derided.Where, then, does this leave the talking microbes and smiling proteins of Japanese science communication? The literature has some to say about anthropomorphism, but nothing specifically about anthropomorphism in science communication.This paper draws on examples from Japan to consider the potential roles of anthropomorphism in the communication of science and related issues.
Matthew Wood
Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
国际会议
北京
英文
138-142
2018-01-05（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）