Because
of this week’s introduction and watching the Carl Sagan film Pale Blue Dot my thoughts kept returning
to when I saw the updated docuseries, The
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014).
As I was already familiar with many aspects that were covered in the television
series, there were still facts that were new and surprising to me. I always
feel tiny and insignificant after watching the segments of the show that travel
deep into space, but the show’s host, Neil deGrasse Tyson, said that makes him
feel big even though it makes others feel small because we are made from stars
(Tyson). “It is artists and their work that reveal to me the essence of space
for human beings in the twentieth century, as well as my place in the cosmos.
Since then, space art works and images have continued to have a powerful effect
upon me: they make me dream and move me deeply” (Bureaud). I
feel, it is for this reason that we have such a vast array of art that is
inspired by space. “The space age was possible because for centuries the
cultural imagination was fed by artists, writers and musicians who dreamed of human
activities in space” (Malina). I also agree with this statement because without
the curiosity and vision we would not be able to make the advances we have in
space exploration and research.
Professor
Vesna states that space has inspired numerous television programs and films
especially before our generation. I loved that the end of our lecture was
focused on this art form because The
Jetsons was one of my favorite television shows as a child. I remember
wanting a robot because of this show, so I attempted building one out of
cardboard boxes and my brother a couple times. Although my designs were simple
and did not include any advanced technology I love looking back on these
memories and thinking of how many other children were inspired by the Jetsons
even more than I was and how many of them are now working in science or art
because of it.
Finally,
I leave you with the art of Ruth Leaf that was inspired by images taken from satellites.
Her art, although, very technical always had a particular style that is well
recognized.
Works Cited:
Druyan, Ann. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. Digital image. IMDb. 9 Mar. 2014. Web.
28 May, 2015. < http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1976617472/tt2395695?ref_=ttmi_mi_all_sf_77>.
Leaf, Ruth. The Universe: Cosmic Nursery. Digital image.
Ruth Leaf Printmaker. Web. 28 May 2015. < http://ruthleaf.com/prints/the-universe/>.
Malina, Roger, Arthur Woods, Annick Bureaud, and B.E.
Johnson. "Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers." Leonardo Space Art
Project Visioneers. MIT Press, 1996. Web. 28 May 2015. < http://spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html>.
The-jetsons-rosie. Digital image. Trending SINY.com.
16 May 2015. Web. 28, May 2015. <http://trendingsiny.com/2014/05/16/products-that-will-leave-you-feeling-like-a-jetson/the-jetsons-rosie/>.
The Most Astounding Fact - Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Perf.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson. 2012. Film. Web. 28 May, 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D05ej8u-gU>.
Vesna, Victoria. “Space pt6” UC
online program. Youtube, 30 May 2012. Web. 26 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=15&v=VYmOtFjIj0M>.
