COMBATING PANDEMICS AND SOCIAL INTERACTION ERRORS – MOVIES VERSUS REALITY

Abstract

One of the major security threats Humankind was confronted with, along several millennia, was coping with deadly viruses. In such a situation, different means of protection of the population have been ensured – medical discoveries, vaccines, and social interaction obstructions. As the creativity of man knows no bounds, different scenarios have emerged regarding combating disease whilst many scientists have designed layouts of coping with deadly viruses, using different models of infections. The goal of this paper is to analyze some of these models, through the lens of Security Studies and Political Science. Then, the discussion will shift towards social interactions and manipulating the social network. Furthermore, we will apply this model on a few selected movies, critically comparing them to the reality we are facing today. Thereby, the focus shall shift towards four well known movies: Contagion (2011), Outbreak (1995), Quarantine (2008), It comes at Night (2017) and their approach to containing and curing viruses, while also quenching the impeding chaos of dismay.