In July 2016, “Stranger Things” stormed its way into the pantheon of pop culture greats. Finding the sweet spot of ’80s nostalgia, horror, and sci-fi, the Duffer Brothers’ series established itself as one of Netflix’s flagship shows and a favourite water cooler topic for close to a decade.
Much like “Jurassic Park” encouraged an entire generation to suddenly view paleontology through a new set of eyes, the same can be said about “Stranger Things” and science. Seriously, how many of us discovered the many-worlds theory because of the concept of the Upside Down on the show? Even wormholes are easier to understand now because of Mr Clarke’s lessons than whatever the heck happens in “Interstellar” that has Matthew McConaughey bawling like he’s been forced to sit through a Jared Leto movie marathon.
Parents and government groups have long highlighted the negative effects of entertainment, but not enough is said about its positive influences, especially the ability to inspire. In fact, it’s often underestimated how invaluable a show like “Stranger Things” has been to educators who want to turn around the declining numbers in STEM graduates.
For University of Liverpool physics professor Carsten Welsch, “Star Wars” references were no longer cutting it with his students. However, the “Stranger Things” science allowed him to relate to a younger generation of learners. “ It’s a really good way to talk about science, which can be quite a challenge, especially with teenagers,” Welsch told NPR. “Normally, the moment you mention physics or engineering, they run away.”
This is something echoed by Louis Bearson, the director of science, business, and education at the Institute of Physics. Bearson mentioned how some of the devices used on the show and its delicate unpacking of complex topics like quantum physics could widen the appeal of science and physics beyond the explanations in the textbooks.
“One of the issues we have is that physics really needs to be more representative of the community at large,” Bearson told The Times. “If we can get a broader base of people interested through things like ‘Stranger Things’, that’s only going to be for the good.”
It wasn’t only the educators who appreciated the power of “Stranger Things” to connect with others, but also government departments like the U.S. Department of Energy.
The official website used the premise of the Upside Down to explain its own work, especially in terms of its search for other dimensions and how this is done in a real-world setting. While the information was always out there for anybody interested in finding out more, how many people would have read and taken an interest in any of it without the influence of “Stranger Things”?Apart from the natural benefit to educators and government departments wanting to increase the interest in STEM education, “Stranger Things” opened up the doors to something else equally important: intelligent discourse among its fanbase — the kind that’s often missing in an online world where trolls walk among us and bring their bad manners from under-the-bridge living.
Reddit and social media forums were flooded with young fans discussing what they watched, the possibilities of where it could go, and even providing explanations to others who might not have understood the scientific concepts. It was encouraging, insightful, and fun, as people learned through interaction and exploration, which to this day is still the best way to learn anything.
In 2017, Olivia Richter, a then-student at the School of Communication and College of Arts and Sciences and writer for The Eagle, wrote a column about how “Stranger Things” served as a modern role model for curiosity.
The author explained how the Hawkins gang expressed “a great thirst for knowledge” and dispelled the notion that being smart or nerdy was something to be ashamed of. “It is encouraging a culture of curiosity and learning in its viewers,” Richter wrote. “Much of the science in the show is based in fiction, though it is still highly successful in making science look exciting and fun and creating a model for young people that it is cool to be inquisitive.”
Fans demonstrated an example of this ultra-curious attitude after the series finale. Science has always been about hypotheses and proving theories, and this approach was applied to the Conformity Gate theory that spread like wildfire online. Sure, some people might call it a conspiracy theory and looking for something that isn’t there, but the fans from around the world rallied to find clues and provide evidence for their unique hypothesis about the show’s ending.
They might not have been right in the end — maybe even being deliberately misled by Netflix’s marketing — but the fact that they questioned, critiqued, and researched to such an extent is a positive sign that the show’s message had an impact. It’s also proof that critical thinking isn’t dead and intelligent life is still out there.
Say what you want about the final season of “Stranger Things” and whether the ending stuck the landing or not, but there’s no disputing the Demogorgon-shaped mark it left on viewers around the globe. More than that, it was a show that provoked curiosity and discovery, as well as encouraging a new generation to find out more about science.
In a world riddled with fake news, false information, endless rage-bait, and sustained pushes for conformity rather than curiosity, we desperately need more neuron-firing programming like this.
All five seasons of “Stranger Things” are on Netflix.