This week's course content largely covered the background and historical progression of space exploration as it relates to humanity's desire to discover. Dating all the way back to Copernicus' heliocentric system (and further back) to the Space Race in the mid-20th century and finally to the modern day privatization of space exploration (Vesna), space as the next frontier has always been on the mind of humans - especially now that the world's lands have been explored and documented.
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| Photo of a Soviet technician tinkering with Sputnik. Retrieved from Sputnik 1, Earth's First Artificial Satellite in Photos | Space |
Aside from the relationship between the sciences and space exploration, art (especially film and media) have been at the forefront of popular culture since the Space Age. No doubt, films, shows, and books like Stars Wars, Star Trek, H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds and have played significant roles in producing and popularizing interest in space and the unknown cosmos (Vesna). However, film, media, and art have always progressed in a manner that reflected the era of creation. Westerns, films that reflected an Old American West, often depicted the American west as a vast expanse of unexplored or untamed land (which also often portrayed American Indians as a part of this "unknown", further damaging perceptions and experiences for these communities). The main takeaway from this observation is that the connection between space and art is fundamentally the relationship between the unknown and art and our limitless desire to explore and learn. Always seeking to know, "What's next?"
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| Artist illustration of the H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. Retrieved from The War of the Worlds Posters. |
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| Scene from George Lucas' Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. Retrieved from 25 Perfect Shots From Star Wars Movies – Page 10 (whatculture.com) |
Indeed, this question pushes us from the problems and issues concerning today's world, and looks for a solution in the future - in space - off this doomed, floating rock. We may subject Earth and its ecosystems to pollution and destruction, but as long as we feel that the cosmos provides the opportunity and space to thrive, then we can be content with our problematic existence. Wall-E, an animated film from the 2000s, demonstrates this reality of thought and the future implications of our choices as we seek to escape the consequences of rapid-industrialization without limitations. Today, with corporations and billionaires taking interest in space exploration (Chang), it is evident that we must take a serious approach to the privatization of space exploration and the repercussions it has for the vast majority of us.
Works Cited
Chang, Kenneth. "Bezos Launches to Space, Aiming to Reignite His Rocket Company’s
Ambitions". New York Times, 20 July 2021,
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/20/science/bezos-
blue-origin-space.html
Clements, Samuel. "25 Perfect Shots from Star Wars Movies". WhatCulture, 7 Feb. 2015,
https://whatculture.com/film/25-perfect-shots-from-the-star-wars-franchise?page=9
"Sputnik 1, Earth's First Artificial Satellite in Photos". Space.com, 4 Oct. 2020,
https://www.space.com/17852-sputnik-space-race-first-satellite-photos.html
"The War Of the Worlds - Poster". PosterRun,
https://posterun.com/products/the-war-of-the-worlds-100016323#111
Victoria, Vesna. "8 space pt1 1280x720". YouTube, YouTube, 29 July 2013,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8&ab_channel=UCOnline
Victoria, Vesna. "8 space pt2 1280x720". YouTube, YouTube, 29 July 2013,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLZMDpoP-u0&ab_channel=UCOnline
Victoria, Vesna. "Space pt4". YouTube, YouTube, 30 May 2012,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ClKO6AJPo&t=5s&ab_channel=UCOnline
Victoria, Vesna. "Space pt6". YouTube, YouTube, 30 May 2012,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYmOtFjIj0M&ab_channel=UCOnline
Hi Johnny, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post on space and art! I really like how you mentioned that space exploration had an impact on the arts through its integration with film and media. For many centuries, humans have been interested in learning more about what lies beyond our planet. I think productions such as films and books are so influential because they effectively expose the concept of space to many individuals worldwide. I also found it interesting how you raised concern for our future and how space integration may be essential to human life as the Earth cannot sustain us forever. However, one small thing I do have to mention though is that when you stated “back to Copernicus' heliocentric system (and further back) to the Space Race” you made it seem like the Space Race occurred before Copernicus developed his heliocentric model, when in fact, it happened centuries later. I would suggest omitting “(and further back)” and replacing it with “in 1543, then” for clarity.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your perspective. It is natural to look for solutions to the problems we face today, even if it means exploring new opportunities in space. However, we must be mindful of the impact our actions have on our planet and its ecosystems. It is important to consider the long-term consequences of space exploration, especially with the rise of private corporations and individuals investing in it. We must approach this development with caution and consideration for the well-being of society as a whole. It is vital that we continue to prioritize the health of our planet and work towards finding sustainable solutions for the future.
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