Source ::: Wikipedia.org
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a teaching and research
university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, has been referenced in many
works of cinema, television and the written word. MIT's overall reputation has
greater influence on its role in popular culture than does any particular aspect of
its history or student lifestyle. Because the Institute is well-known as a breeding
ground for technology and technologists, the makers of modern media are
able to use it to establish character in a way that mainstream audiences can
understand. A smaller number of works use MIT directly as their scene of action
MIT as metaphor
The use of "MIT as metaphor" is relatively widespread, so much so that in
popular culture, "the MIT of" is an idiom for "top science and engineering
university," or "elite technical institution," like "Cadillac of" for "most luxurious,"
or "an Einstein" for "intelligent person." Similarly, any regionally prominent
science or engineering school is likely to be called "the MIT of" that region. For
example, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) touted the University of
Alabama in Huntsville as a possible "MIT of the South."[1] The Georgia Institute
of Technology has also been called "the MIT of the South".[2] Other examples,[3]
make "X is the MIT of Y" an example of a snowclone (a family of formulaic
clichés).
Movies and television
Frequently, when a character in Hollywood cinema is required to have a science
or engineering background, or in general possess an extremely high level of
intelligence, the film establishes that he or she is an MIT graduate or associate.
(MIT can also be a comparative or a metaphor for intellect in general: "Would
they think of that at MIT?") Numerous films and television series indulge in this
technique, including:
● The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
● Desk Set (1957)
● The Phantom Planet (1961)[4]
● Help! (1965)
● Ghostbusters (1984)
● Hackers (1995)
● Independence Day (1996)
● Conceiving Ada (1997)
● Orgazmo (1997)
● Armageddon (1998)
● Sphere (1998)
● Space Cowboys (2000)
● The Fast and the Furious (2001)
● Undergrads (2001)
● xXx (2002)
● Arrested Development (2003)
● The Recruit (2003)
● National Treasure (2004)
● The Fantastic Four (2005)
● Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
● Rent (2005)
● E-Ring (2005)
● 21 (2008)
● Seven Pounds (2008)
● Death Race 3000 (2008)
● Iron Man (2008)
● Knowing (2009)
● Edge of Darkness (2010)
● Take Me Home Tonight (2011)
● No Strings Attached (2011)
Computer and video games
Some genres of computer and video games have characterization requirements
like those of movies. For example, a game involving a team of commandos
might require a member who can break into computers, crack security systems
or work with explosives. This character's background would typically have to be
established very quickly and efficiently, perhaps within one screen of introductory
text. Stating that a commando or top-secret operative "graduated from MIT" is
one way to accomplish this.
MIT is mentioned in the computer games Area 51 (1995), Half-Life (1998), Half-
Life 2 (2005) and Metal Gear Solid (1998).
In the case of the Half-Life series, the main protagonist, Gordon Freeman, is an
MIT graduate.
The Infocom game The Lurking Horror (1987), written by MIT alumnus and
interactive fiction pioneer Dave Lebling, is set on the campus of the George
Underwood Edwards Institute of Technology, which strongly resembles MIT. Its
fictional culture also parodies the MIT culture. For instance, G.U.E. Tech's class
ring is known as the brass hyrax, parodying MIT's Brass Rat.
List of fictional characters
● Ellie Arroway, Contact - SETI researcher (in Carl Sagan's novel, Ellie Arroway is
aHarvard graduate)
● Emma, No Strings Attached (film) - Protagonist is an MIT graduate, played by
Natalie Portman
● Stanley Brack
● Mike Cannon, Las Vegas - "MIT graduate degree"
● Ben Chapeski, Orgazmo - "MIT graduate"
● James Clayton, The Recruit - CIA trainee, degree in "non-linear cryptography"
● Darcy, Secretary in The Loop
● Dilbert-has a MIT degree in Course VI-1, electrical engineering
● Alex Doonesbury- character in the comic strip Doonesbury, daughter of Mike
Doonesbury and J. J.
● Jack Florey[17]
● James E. Tetazoo
● Ryan Q. Putz
● Tobias Fünke, Arrested Development, completed his fellowship
inpsycholinguistics
● Benjamin Gates, National Treasure
● Gordon Freeman, Half-Life - Degree in theoretical physics
● Invisible Woman, The Fantastic Four
● David Levinson, Independence Day - Manager at NYC cable station, degree in
computer science
● Harvey, from Allan Sherman's song parody Harvey and Sheila ("He went to MIT
and got his Ph.D.")
● The man who ran the computer in the The Brothers Four song, "John Henry, The
Thinkin' Man"[18]
● Will Hunting, Good Will Hunting - Savant on-campus janitor
● James O. Incandenza, "Infinite Jest" -Played tennis as an MIT student, optical
expert
● Black Mass (comics) was a physicist at MIT before he was granted powers by
theOvermaster
● Tim McGee, NCIS "has a Masters in Computing Forensics at MIT"
● Bullwinkle J. Moose, "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show" - With a degree in Toe
Dancing
● Rebecca Miyamoto, Pani Poni Dash!
● Otacon, Metal Gear Solid
● Mei Ling, Metal Gear Solid
● Jim Rhodes, Marvel Comics' Iron Man
● Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic Marvel Comics The Fantastic Four
● Rockhound, Armageddon - Geologist with two MIT doctorates in Chemistry and
Geology
● Tony Stark, Marvel Comics' Iron Man
● Ed Straker, commander of SHADO
● Richard Sumner, Desk Set - A "PhD from MIT in Science"
● Tim Thomas AKA Ben Thomas, Seven Pounds - studied engineering at MIT
● Howard Wolowitz, The Big Bang Theory - Masters in Engineering
***Muhammad Ishaque MEmon***
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