I’ve often wondered why the Spanish Flu pandemic wasn’t better represented in the arts. I mean, there are almost no books or movies about it. It’s barely taught in school. For such a major event, it always seemed forgotten. Now I know why. People today are SO anxious to jump the gun and declare this pandemic over before it is. No way are they going to want to watch a movie or read a book about it in the next twenty years. They just want it to be in the rear view mirror. We will probably see the roaring twenties all over again.
Interesting take. We talk for months about tragic events like 9/11 or Columbine, but then our interest and the news cycle move on to the next thing. In films about long-term disasters, people become more aware and adept over time. Filmmakers didn't anticipate that so many would become fatigued of the precautions and decide whatever happens, happens.
Books on contagions like Ebloa or Hanta or the Black Plague do note that the most effective diseases (in terms of duplication and spreading) are the less lethal ones. COVID is in an interesting spot --less than 10% fatal, but killing more than car crashes.
