Disaster Films

 If something like the flood described in Pushkin's poem happened in contemporary America, there might well be a film made about it.  And even without an actual event, we're constantly treated to disaster films.  What purpose do you think these films serve?  Note: Try and illustrate your ideas with a specific film (or possibly a couple of films).  Better yet, go see if you can find some academic or critical discussion of disaster films and apply it here.