Week 9: Space + Art
Week 9
Science + Art
May 23, 2017
Feel free to listen to the following score from Christopher Nolan’s film, Interstellar, while reading this post.
Interstellar - Main Theme by Hans Zimmer
2012
“Visual art has always been about pushing at the edges of human culture, whether that's the boundaries of perception, the limits of technology, or the possibilities of storytelling” (Chayka). ET, Interstellar, Star Trek, and Gravity - these are just a few of the many films made over the past fifty years or so since the advent of mankind’s first entrance into space. I think what makes the concept of space exploration so central to the Hollywood mind is that there is still so much more to explore - there is an element of mystery and wonder in the unknown depths of space. And because we have so much room to imagine what it’s like out there, the creative mind of artists comes into play to put possibly impossible scenarios into play. There is beauty in the unknown and there is beauty in imagining and creating art to capture our concept of the unknown and of what is possible.
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| Interstellar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EDnlgnbWFM |
In terms of relating space to art, what captivates me most about space films is the cinematography and how the artwork of the filmmakers always elicits in me the same emotions of awe and wonder when I’m watching the night sky light up with billions of stars and planets and galaxies or looking at both real and science fiction technologies that allow people to perform what would’ve been impossible only fifty years ago.
start at 1:33
Furthermore, I truly believe that the creativity, imagination, and passion behind the work of engineers, mathematicians, and scientists is in and of itself a form of art. Scientists have been able to create new technologies that have changed the face of science and the state of the world today. Perhaps my favorite film that actually discusses the rocketship revolution era in the US is October Sky, because not only does it incorporate a fictional retelling of actual events, the artistry behind the film also conveys the emotional atmosphere of the US at that time.
October Sky
I truly believe that the action of breaking through scientific and atmospheric barriers to allow a man on the moon is a very technical and sophisticated form of art that relies on the relationship amongst art, science, and technology.
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| List of NASA missions https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Saturn_V_launches.jpg |
References
Chayka, Kyle. "Where Art And Space Travel Meet: Why Is The Art World Suddenly So Captivated By The Cosmos?" Creators. N.p., 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 23 May 2017. <https://creators.vice.com/en_us/article/where-art-and-space-travel-meet-why-is-the-art-world-suddenly-so-captivated-by-the-cosmos>.
Chernov, Matthew. "'Interstellar' and the 10 Most Realistic Space Travel Films." Variety. N.p., 06 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 May 2017. <http://variety.com/gallery/interstellar-most-realistic-space-flight-films/>.
Rosson, Lois. "The Art of Air and Space." National Air and Space Museum. N.p., 22 Mar. 2017. Web. 23 May 2017. <https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/art-air-and-space>.
Great post! I liked your remarks about the movie Interstellar since it's one of my favorite sci-fi movies recently. As you pointed out, a lot of the appeal of space in art is from the idea that it represents vastness and unknown. This is a popular theme in movies, which probably explains why, unlike other genres of films, space science fiction movies have been popular for a long time and will probably continue to do so in the future.
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