Examples: Pi, Good Will hunting, The proof, A beautiful mind
2007-03-11 16:00:37 · 8 answers · asked by Theta40 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
They rarely make movies about ordinary mathematicians. Only the best of us actually make it to the screen. Take me for example...
Sorry, got carried away.
One thing that is true: mathematicians learn very strict rules of logic, they learn how to solve problems and they learn how to test "proofs". Therefore, a good mathematician will be able to solve things outside the field of mathematics.
Wikipedia defines a genius as a person with great intelligence or a "polymath" (skilled in many mental areas). Mathematicians are rarely hired as "pure" mathematicians. They are forced early to apply their skills to all kinds of fields.
By the way, in many languages, the word genius is linked with the word engineer -- but don't tell them that, they'll go around believing it.
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There was a time when scientists in general (including mathematicians) were portrayed as "absent-minded" or very strange. So I guess we go through phases, in movies, of seeing intelligent people as heroes and seeing them as "strange" or dangerous.
2007-03-11 16:24:57 · answer #1 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most mathematicians are geniuses. Just kidding.
Because a mathematician almost HAS to be a genius in order to make a strong enough character for a movie. Mathematicians do have to be pretty darn smart, though not geniuses.
2007-03-11 23:15:54 · answer #2 · answered by mitch w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, to be honest, every practicing mathematician I know, personally or by name and reputation, IS a genious. Mathematics takes an incredible amount of brainpower to conceive and visualize the mathematical structures and concepts. The same for solving the problems out there at the far reaches of current research. I consider myself a poorman's working mathematician, but the last time my IQ was measured, it was between 180 and 190. And most of the good mathematicians make me feel rather slow, plodding, and just not very smart. Movies being movies, trying to stylize and idealize everything, are going to always make characters out to be at either one end of the spectrum or the other in terms of their intelligence and/or behavior.
2007-03-11 23:25:21 · answer #3 · answered by flyfisher_20750 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the goal of all movie makers is to be as realistic as possible and we know that all Mathematicians are geniuses.
2007-03-11 23:04:04 · answer #4 · answered by PZ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it wouldn't be a good movie or a good character in a movie if they were a mathematician the didn't know math very well
2007-03-11 23:05:37 · answer #5 · answered by badgers11081 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Movies are movies, mathematicians are mathematicians, maybe they could be a genius, but not necessarily.
2007-03-11 23:05:45 · answer #6 · answered by niddlie diddle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cuz Movies are always based on lies
2007-03-11 23:03:07 · answer #7 · answered by AM 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, because I say so.
2007-03-11 23:03:46 · answer #8 · answered by Johnny Handsome 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋