Audience Reactions to Climate Change and Science in Disaster Cli-fi Films: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

Little scholarly attention has been paid to how audiences interpret pop culture messages about climate. This paper addresses this issue by taking up the case of disaster cli-fi films and exploring how audiences react to film representations of climate change. It draws on data from focus groups to evaluate audience responses to disaster cli-fi films. Analysis reveals that by only briefly discussing climate change in their plotlines, the films weaken their environmental message. The paper concludes with a discussion of the effects of disaster cli-fi films on environmental attitudes and suggestions for further research.

Keywords

• climate change
• narratives
• mass media
• public understanding of science
• focus groups