Week 9: Space + Art

Space sounds like something that is so far away yet so close. As we approach the end of the course, we can see that a wide variety of sciences and arts relate to each other, as 'we are using nanotechnology and space, biotechnology and mathematics, and robotics, all coming together in relation to our consciousness' (Vesna).

Our world can be understood simply by the powers of ten, such as a colossal Milky Way galaxy measured at 10 to the 18th power (1,000 light-years). Conversely, the same concept can be used to calculate something as microscopic as three hydrogen atoms bonded to a carbon atom with a force measured at 10 to the -9th power (10 ångstroms) in our human body (Eames Office).


Powers of Ten 


As we delve into space, James Cameron, the famous director, highlights the profound connection between the deep ocean and outer space in his documentary. In 2012, the renowned filmmaker embarked on a journey to the deepest place on Earth, the Mariana Trench, in a 24-foot submersible vehicle named Deepsea Challenger. Reflecting on this thrilling journey, Cameron noted that due to potential malfunctions in the submersible, similar to those in a rocket, "we treated it like a space mission, and you have to go in with a lot of redundancy in the way you design it. So, I wasn't surprised when it worked. But you're always a little bit relieved because the alternative is not pretty" (Chappell). In another talk, Cameron claims that he "loves engineering and solving hard engineering problems, and loves working with really smart engineers in a room and trying to do something that hasn't been done before, such as making a submarine that can go into extreme depth" (StarTalk).

The Deepsea Challenger 

Avatar movie

With his passion for science, Cameron was able to incorporate his expertise into the artistic world, contributing to his success as a three-time Oscar-winning filmmaker. His achievements are particularly notable for his meticulous movie editing and innovative special effects in the early years. Cameron revolutionized motion capture during the production of Avatar, not just by utilizing cutting-edge technology, but by inventing new filming tools and techniques such as head rigs for performance capture called 'volume' and other significant contributions to audience experience and filmmaking (Mingalone). It is fascinating to witness the interaction of science and art in some of the greatest films of all time, especially with the concept of space. This course not only taught the 'facts' of these two areas of study but also demonstrated how they manifest in our real world and how to apply them.




Work Cited:

Chappell, Bill. “Descending Into The Mariana Trench: James Cameron's Odyssey.” NPR: The Two-Way, 2013, https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186302916/Mariana-Trench.

Eames Office. “Powers of Ten.” Youtube, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0&t=447s.

Mingalone, Jessica. “James Cameron: The mastermind behind a technological revolution.” The Los Angeles Loyolan, 2023, https://www.laloyolan.com/opinion/james-cameron-the-mastermind-behind-a-technological-revolution/article_fbaebda5-6028-5ef4-a33e-1bee94736e3e.html.

National Geographics. “James Cameron on Exploration of Deep Sea and Space | StarTalk.” YouTube, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6OyW-kOe7Y.

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture: Space Intro.” BruinLearn, 2012, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/183769/pages/unit-9-view?module_item_id=6671262


Image cited: 

Brajer, Jessica. “Explained: Why Avatar Was So Successful When it Came Out.” MovieWEB, 2022, https://movieweb.com/avatar-successful-why/.

Chappell, Bill. “Descending Into The Mariana Trench: James Cameron's Odyssey.” NPR: The Two-Way, 2013, https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186302916/Mariana-Trench.

Jones, Rosie. “The film: 'Powers of Ten' November 2016 By Rosie Jones.” Archio, 2016, https://www.archio.co.uk/blog/2016/11/08/powers-ten/.





Comments

  1. Nicole HuangJune 1, 2024 at 7:43 PM

    I love how you included the films about space and how. that can affect what we know and do not know about space. Great read!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Phoenix CallJune 2, 2024 at 10:55 PM

    I loved your inclusion of the movie avatar! One if my all time favs.

    ReplyDelete

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