Ed Wood Wednesdays, week 241: Ed Wood's thoughts on science and technology

Isn't pretty much everything "God's domain" when you think about it?

You'd assume that the makers of science-fiction movies would generally be in favor of actual science. I mean, it's right there in the name of the genre. But, after a lifetime of watching these films, it's clear to me that Hollywood views science with extreme skepticism if not outright contempt. From exploring space to trying to eradicate disease or extend life, science almost always leads to disaster in the movies. Perhaps sci-fi helps us deal with our fears about so-called "progress," from the feeling that technology will ultimately rule and/or destroy the human race to the sneaking suspicion that, by learning too much about the world, we are in constant danger of upsetting God. 

As Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer) once remarked on The Simpsons: "Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends!"

But do the movies of Edward D. Wood, Jr. reflect the general anti-science bias of popular culture? Well, it depends on the movie. 

Attack of the Atomic Snot: A Short Story

"We've got the situation 75% under control..."

The Hubert J. Cromsby Institute for the Advancement of Quantum Botany
Las Calaveras, New Mexico 
April 21, 1975 - 8:04 a.m. 

And hello to you, Dr. Ackerman! Good to finally meetcha! 

Can I call you Jerry? Super. And please, do call me Dr. Mandelbrot. Haw, haw! Just pullin' your leg there, Jer. But all kidding aside, "Tom" will do just fine. We're all friends here at HJC. 

Let me show you around the place and introduce you to some of the boys you'll be working with. Right this way. How's Las Calaveras been treating you, by the by? Settling in to your new home all right? Oh? Well, I sure as heck am sorry to hear that, Jer. My wife was the same way when we first moved out here. But she got used to it, and I'm sure your wife will, too. What's her name, if I may ask? What a coincidence. My grandfather's name was Miriam. Haw, haw! 

But really, Jer, this place isn't too bad once you get used to the heat. Satan's Crawlspace, my wife Dolores calls it. There's not a whole heck of a lot to do in town... a few restaurants, coupla stores. Dolores thought she'd go stir crazy. But I tell ya, Jer, at night Las Calaveras has a beauty all her own. It's the sky, Jer, that great big beautiful open sky fulla stars. Makes a person feel, I dunno, free I guess is the word. And here's the best part, Jer: no lawn to mow! Am I right? Haw, haw! 

The kids took to this place right away. Said it reminded 'em of those old Road Runner cartoons, which I guess it does at that. How you fixed in the offspring department there, Jer? Got two m'self. Randy's nine and Courtney's eleven. How 'bout you? No? Some particular reason? Well, I guess you're right, Jer. It's not my place to pry. But if it's a medical thing, Jer, I know a coupla doctors who would be glad to... Okay, Jer, I'll lay off. Guess I'm always tryin' to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong. But, heck, that's why we became scientists, huh? Delores says a scientist is just a busybody wrapped in a lab coat! A regular Nosy Joe, that's me. Haw, haw!