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This podcast analyzes the film Contagion and its portrayal of a global pandemic through sociological theories. The film explores social issues such as inequality, deviance, and social control. It also examines the role of social institutions and how they respond to crises. The film accurately depicts the impact of pre-existing social inequalities on marginalized groups during a pandemic. It emphasizes the importance of global coordination in responding to pandemics. Sociological theories such as labeling theory, conflict theory, social integration theory, and risk society theory provide insights into these social issues. The film aligns with Kavanaugh's social cognitive perspective, which suggests that past experiences influence preventative behaviors during epidemics. However, elements of health belief theory, which focuses on perceived susceptibilities, also play a role. The film portrays both positive and negative sociological impacts, raising awareness about global interdependence In this podcast, I will analyze the film Contagion from 2011 using sociological theories and perspectives. Contagion is a medical thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh that depicts the global pandemic. I selected this film because it explores many relevant social issues through the lens of an outbreak narrative. The film begins when Beth Inhofe, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, returns to her home in Minnesota after a business trip to Hong Kong. Soon after, Beth experiences seizures and dies. Her son dies shortly after, and her husband, Mitch, played by Matt Damon, is revealed to be immune to the disease. Epidemiologists from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, including Dr. Shriver, played by Laurence Fishburne, are deployed to investigate the disease, which is found to be a new type of virus with no treatment or vaccine available. The virus spreads quickly around the world, facilitated by global transit. Sociological panic and upheaval occur as the death toll rises. Researchers at the CDC and the World Health Organization work urgently to develop a vaccine. Let's take a look at the sociological approach. Contagion manifests several major social issues, including inequality, deviance, social control, and the role of social institutions. There are assumptions that global pandemic films exaggerate threats and appeal to fear. However, sociological theories can provide perspectives on the complex relationships between social issues, individuals, and society. For instance, labeling theory can be applied to examine stigmatization during a perceived crisis. The sociological imagination helps us understand how individual experiences are shaped by broader and social contexts. Taking a look at sociological analysis, inequality is a major social issue supporting contagion. Social stratification along economic lines influences access to health care, supplies, and vaccines during the fictional MEV1 pandemic. For example, wealthier characters are able to shelter in place more comfortably than those with fewer resources. Conflict theory explains how social structures and disparities and power manifest as inequality. During pandemics, marginalized groups suffer more due to existing systems of inequality. For instance, vulnerable populations, like the homeless and incarcerated, are disproportionately impacted by disease outbreaks. Conflict theory provides perspectives on how pandemics exacerbate existing social inequalities. Emile Duncombe's social integration theory examines how social ties influence outcomes. Duncombe argued that suicide rates increase during disruptive events because of social bonds are weakened. This applies to contagion as the pandemic isolates people, increasing anonymity and despair. Mitch becomes suicidal after losing his wife and stepson to MEV1. Social integration theory provides insight into how pandemics can undermine social ties and norms. Hildreth Beck's risk society theory argues that modern risks, like climate change and nuclear threats, are global systematic risks not found by borders, and contagion that virus ignores borders, supporting Beck's view of modern risk. Risk society theory provides perspectives on how globalized systems have increased vulnerability to worldwide catastrophes like pandemics. Additional research, two sociological studies, provide differing perspectives on health behaviors during epidemics. Kavanaugh found that past experiences with epidemics were associated with greater willingness to get vaccinated or take preventative action. In contrast, Bish and Michie found that prior exposure to epidemics did not reliably predict preventative behaviors. These studies disagree on whether past experiences influence actions during outbreaks. Kavanaugh applies social cognitive theory, arguing experience shapes outcomes expectations and preventative actions. In contrast, Bish and Michie utilize health belief theory, which poses perceived susceptibilities, drives behaviors more than experiences. The theories provide differing lenses to explain preventative behaviors. Contagion shows both willing and resistant reactions to public health measures reflecting these complex theoretical explanations. Real-world prevalence. Contagion portrays a sociological breakdown deviates somewhat from real-world responses to epidemics. While fear and worrying occurred during COVID-19, widespread chaos seen in the film did not emerge to the same degree. However, the film accurately depicts how pre-existing social inequalities impacted the vulnerability to disease of marginalized groups faced higher COVID rates. The film also reflects the importance of global coordination in responding to modern pandemics and depicts more conflict than real institutions like the World Health Organization. Applying integration theory and risk society theory provide useful perspectives on real epidemics too. COVID-19 demonstrated how social bonds and routines were disrupted by physical distancing measures. Risk society theory also explains how global transit contributed to COVID-19's spread worldwide. These theories help us critically examine the social dimensions of real epidemics. Reflecting on analyzing contagion using sociological theory to provide valuable insight and to applying sociological perspectives. Theories like social integration theory and risk society theory along with mind risk and social determinants of health. Understanding how epidemics relate to a larger social system and structures can inform a public health career aiming to reduce health disparities. Evaluating biomedical issues like outbreaks through sociological lens allows us to ask complex interdisciplinary questions and challenging assumptions. This project has further reinforced my desire to apply sociology in future research and practices. Conclusion. I align more closely with Kavanaugh's social cognitive perspectives as past epidemics appear to influence preventable behaviors during COVID-19. However, elements of health belief theory cannot be discounted highlighting the complexity of health behaviors. By depicting marginalized characters facing greater barriers, contagion challenges assumptions about epidemics impacting society equally. However, scenes of social disorder lean towards negative stereotyping rather than reflecting real world resilience during outbreaks. Overall, the film has both positive and negative sociological impacts. It raises awareness about global interdependence and the importance of public health institutions that exaggerate sociological gaps. Applying sociological theories provides a more nuanced interpretation in illuminating how outbreak narratives like contagion intersect with real social issues and systems.