A Developer Goes to the Movies

Overview

Explore the portrayal of software developers in cinema history with Simon Painter, examining accuracy, social trends, and how Hollywood depicts tech professionals across different eras and genres.

Syllabus

• Week 1: Introduction to the Course
Overview of cinema's influence on societal perceptions of developers
Course objectives and expectations
• Week 2: Early Portrayals of Developers
Examination of pre-1980s films
Depictions of technology and developers in early cinema
• Week 3: The Rise of the Personal Computer Era
1980s films and the advent of the tech hero
Key films: "WarGames," "Tron," and their cultural impact
• Week 4: The Dot-Com Boom in Cinema
1990s portrayals of tech professionals and startup culture
Key films: "The Net," "Hackers," and their portrayal of internet culture
• Week 5: The Myth of the Developer
Analysis of Hollywood stereotypes: the "lone genius," "hacker," and "entrepreneur"
How these stereotypes reflect or diverge from reality
• Week 6: The Hacker Genre
Exploration of the evolution of hacker films
Key films: "Sneakers," "Swordfish," and their impact on public perceptions
• Week 7: Women in Tech on Film
Depictions of female developers in cinema
Key films: "Hidden Figures," "The Matrix," exploring gender dynamics
• Week 8: The Ethical Developer
Examining films that focus on the ethics of tech development
Key films: "Ex Machina," "The Social Network"
• Week 9: Global Perspectives
How international films portray software developers
Key films from Bollywood, East Asia, and Europe
• Week 10: The Modern Developer Era
Contemporary film portrayals post-2010
Key films: "Steve Jobs," "The Imitation Game," and their real-world influence
• Week 11: Social Trends and Tech Evolution
How changing technology trends impact the portrayal of developers
Exploration of future trends in cinema
• Week 12: Course Review and Critical Analysis
Summarizing key insights and course learnings
Group discussions and final project presentations
• Week 13: Final Thoughts and Closing
Reflections on the evolution of developers in cinema
Guest lecture and Q&A session with industry professionals

Subjects

Computer Science