It’s All Been There Before. Denis Newiak

short scientific treatise. However, this book – in view of the special situation – attempts to investigate in a condensed form, with the help of a film analytical-hermeneutic evaluation of selected representative works, how the individual elements of action can be classified in such film works – and which may in fact offer important indications of real-world fields of conflict that hardly ever appear in the public discourse.

      Uncovering and using future knowledge and options for action from the pandemic films

      The following striking analysis of some relevant works from film and television is intended to contribute to an application-oriented examination of the knowledge that the works of art contain about the possible courses of pandemics, their socio-economic implications and consequences and the associated regulatory, civil society and individual psychological challenges. Ideally, the scenarios developed by these films – which, as cannot be emphasized enough, follow predominantly their own rules of dramatization, fictionalization and economic evaluability and must not be misinterpreted as ‘mirrors of society’ – can help to support politics, civil society, and scientific actors who are overburdened by the mere thought of anticipating possible future developments (let alone by making approximate predictions). Only this allows to critically analyze possible intervention measures, to find new scope for action and to adapt and ideally sensibly expand their measures to combat pandemics – both now and in the future.

      Films only submit offers – but those responsible must decide for themselves

      At the same time, it must be underlined that – although the spreading Covid 19 disease triggered publication of this book – the findings described in the following are to be understood in general terms, and at the same time should be interpreted with caution. Neither should it be suggested that the described narratives must always be in a concrete connection with the currently prevailing crisis situation. Just because films and television suggest it that way, the presented behavioral offers and courses of action are not compulsory likely, socially desirable or even necessary. The decision on this is incumbent on those who are assigned this responsible role by a society.

      Pandemic films focus on the most serious scenarios – an opportunity to prepare for future major threats

      In addition, pandemic films typically deal with infection courses that are many times more severe, dynamic and effective than the Coronavirus disease which started in 2020. In accordance with the concrete and serious warnings of virologists, epidemiologists, and futurologists, even much more devastating pandemic scenarios can be imagined, which would present mankind with even more profound challenges. With this in mind, this text should also be understood as an invitation to consider the harsh social, economic, and legal cutbacks made in the course of the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 as a result of a lack of preparation for a possible pandemic. The accumulation of ever newer and more aggressive pathogens since the turn of the century suggests that people will probably have to deal with pandemics even more frequently in the future – and potentially also with event patterns that could significantly exceed the challenges existing at the time of writing this book. It is therefore worthwhile, both in the current situation and with a view to possible future developments, to deal with such fictions, because they envision what political leaders, citizens and even civil protectionists often cannot or do not want to imagine. Nevertheless, it remains the natural and exclusive task of the decisionmakers in power to weigh up what concrete effects the knowledge of such fictitious scenarios must have.