Dr Zuleyka Zevallos

Let's talk a little about the representation of social sciences, race & mental illness in Midsommar. In short, it's an effective & impressive horror film, but replicates familiar ethical problems in storytelling Spoilers ahead, but I'll keep them to a minimum. #BadSciFilmpic.twitter.com/1DXW1k71Fd

Films reproduce stereotypes about science that have real world implications for the public. One of these is who gets to be seen as a scientist (usually White men). Another is a distortion of what science involves In Midsommar, social scientists are men who do whatever they wantpic.twitter.com/JTwD2BfVMj

On surface, Midsommar attempts to be progressive by having a Black male anthropologist, Josh (William Jackson Harper), as the expert, whose research propels the plot. He's interested in researching a closed community in Sweden. But his race is dangerously ignored. #BadSciFilmpic.twitter.com/w8RFv7Pf4j

#POC in science cannot ignore race dynamics in their work. That a Black *student* willfully goes into an all-White, remote community and stays after witnessing intra-group violence is what happens when 'I don't see colour' logic leads to further racism. #BadSciFilmpic.twitter.com/CpN1CL4vFw