Summary

A Brazilian microbiologist and science communicator, Natalia Pasternak, mirrors Jennifer Lawrence's character in the movie "Don't Look Up" by reacting strongly to a talk show host's dismissive attitude towards the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

The article discusses the similarities between a scene from the movie "Don't Look Up" and a real-life incident involving Brazilian microbiologist and science communicator Natalia Pasternak. In the movie, Jennifer Lawrence's character loses her temper on a talk show while trying to warn about a comet heading towards Earth, only to be met with a dismissive and frivolous response from the host. Similarly, Pasternak was invited to a TV show where the host asked her how to deal with those who refuse to wear masks in a playful way, to which Pasternak reacted strongly, emphasizing the severity of the situation and the importance of taking it seriously. The article highlights the importance of clear, objective, and verified information in dealing with the pandemic and encourages support for scientists like Pasternak and Átila Iamarino who are working to spread accurate information.

Bullet points

The movie "Don't Look Up" features a scene where Jennifer Lawrence's character loses her temper on a talk show while trying to warn about a comet heading towards Earth.
Brazilian microbiologist and science communicator Natalia Pasternak had a similar experience on a TV show where she was asked how to deal with those who refuse to wear masks in a playful way.
Pasternak reacted strongly to the host's dismissive attitude, emphasizing the severity of the situation and the importance of taking it seriously.
The article highlights the importance of clear, objective, and verified information in dealing with the pandemic.
The article encourages support for scientists like Pasternak and Átila Iamarino who are working to spread accurate information about the pandemic.

She Is Jennifer Lawrence's Character in Real-Life

The iconic scene of ‘Don’t look up’ in real-life starring a Brazilian microbiologist and science writer/communicator

Sources: Left: Natalia Pasternak/TV Cultura News | Right: Jennifer Lawrence / Don’t Look Up — Netflix

I bet you already watched or at least heard about the movie ‘Don’t look up’, right?

For those who have no idea of what I am talking about, it is an American movie released in 2021. It tells the story of two astronomers who detected a comet moving towards Earth that will destroy human civilization.

The details in the film relate a lot to our current situation. Reactions from deniers and people totally out of reality during the COVID-19 pandemic (and since before with the climate change) make many of us frustrated and desperate with the present scenario.

In one of the main scenes in the film, Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an MSU doctoral candidate in astronomy, goes to a morning talk show to alert all about the fatal celestial body coming directly to kill all of us but the host treats the topic frivolously.

At this moment, Dibiasky loses her mind live on the show. She freaks out because people act denying the reality and acting as nothing serious were happening.

A real and bright Brazilian microbiologist, and science writer/communicator, Natalia Pasternak, has been helping a lot to inform the population about COVID-19.

In December 2020, she was invited to a TV show where the host asks the scientist how to lightly deal with those who refuse to wear the mask in a playful way in order to avoid stress.

How to avoid stress in a situation while so many lives are being lost? Is it possible? People who don't wear masks should not be treated friendly. Well, Pasternak lost her composure.

In the subtitle of the TV show, it's written: "Bom humor para sair dos embates" which means "Good mood to get out of conflicts".

You can check the video with the English subtitles right below. It was posted on Twitter by Ms. Pasternak herself.

I am a little astounded by what I just heard. Because I heard: humor, take it lightly and avoid stress. So, I can’t tell the other person do the right thing because I’m going to be stressed? Because he/she can feel offended? Because I have to take it lightly and with humor? PEOPLE ARE DYING! There is no humor, it’s not something to be taken lightly. I don’t have to ask permission to tell people to wear a mask, to do the right thing! They should be ashamed of themselves before they kill someone. Sorry for the tone, but I don’t think I ever saw such an uncalled-for piece of reporting as the one I just saw. — Natalia Pasternak

It's crazy to think that people try to find a less tense way to speak about a very tense situation. I know that human life changed dramatically over the years and now we have a much more comfortable lifestyle that protects us from many hostile environments.

We can notice, based on the way wealthy people raise their children, that those who are very protected tend to be out of reality.

Maybe, if we don't become aware, this most protected lifestyle that we live today will guarantee our extinction.

Cause, in the end, it seems that a considerable portion of the population doesn't have an acute survival instinct. People broadcast TV news like they were doing a kindergarten program.

This is very wrong. We must be pragmatic. Denial attitudes disrupt everyone’s life. They cannot be appeased.

I think that everyone who wants to survive needs to claim for clear, objective, and verified information to take the correct and possible steps, right?

Support science professionals who give us precious information

Natalia Pasternak, along with Átila Iamarino are two brilliant Brazilian scientists that are doing an incredible job spreading safe information about the pandemic for all Brazilian people and any other Portuguese speakers.

You can follow Ms. Pasternak on Twitter.

Iamarino's Youtube channel can be also watched by other non-Portuguese speakers activating the native Youtube subtitle for your specific language.

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