WEEK 9

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SPACE + ART


“Space-Scape #1.” 2046 Print Shop, 2046printshop.com/shop/prints/art-print/space-scape-1/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7cGUBhA9EiwArBAvomygmgJheB_aht1xYiEH_PXmAqdAELMNpeSzRZqjQ1Q_eygtTTXAohoCQLQQAvD_BwE

This week was a perfect subsequent topic and culmination of the past couple weeks of nanotechnology, mathematics, and more (Vesna). This week, Professor Vesna focused on the impacts of the combination of space and art. Space and art, despite their differences are very influential upon each other, and art has been and still is playing a major role in the encouragement of space advancement and exploration. The examples and history explained behind this influential exchange between the two subjects I found to be very eye-opening. Additionally, this week’s readings and lectures emphasized the impact of art and how that impact can lead to something even bigger and unexpected.


There are many different art mediums and projects that have impacted how space advancement occurred and came to be. 


One of the various projects is called the Leonardo Space Project, which is "is an assembly of individuals who are working together to investigate and promote the cultural dimensions of space activities,” which is essentially people who are dedicated to promoting space art to help our advancements in space itself (Leonardo Space Art Project). While I was reading this, I found there to be a quote that I believe sums up the impactful relationship between these two disciplines. Roger Malina, who is a member of the Leonardo Space Art Project stated that “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” (Leonardo Space Art Project).


Almeida, Andres. “NASA and Art: A Collaboration Colored With History.” NASA, NASA, 12 Apr. 2017, www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-and-art-a-collaboration-colored-with-history. 


There are also many smaller projects and artworks that have impacted early space exploration, as well as media works that continue to engage an interest around the idea of space. 


The Powers of Ten documentary that was showed in this week’s materials is simply a documentary that helps to illustrate the vastness and conceptualize the size of space for an average person (EamesOffice). It is filmed in a way that every time it zooms out it shows the audience the massive scale of outer space relative to the small world that we live in. It creates a buzzing interest around this idea. 


“World's First Space Station Launched 50 Years Ago Today.” World's First Space Station Launched 50 Years Ago Today | World Air Sports Federation, 19 Apr. 2021, www.fai.org/news/worlds-first-space-station-launched-50-years-ago-today. 


Additionally, in his 1920 book, Beyond the Planet Earth, Russian school teacher Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was the first to “describe a true space station” with greenhouse, laboratory, living quarters and docking port to the world (Vesna).  He was one of the inspirations to further exploring this idea. The first space station was then created on April 19, 1971 by the Soviet Union, known as Salyut (Mars).


Sessums, Zoë “We're Really into the the Jetsons's Space Age Style Right Now.” Architectural Digest, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2020, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-jetsons-space-age-style. 


One other example I would like to mention is the boom of space exploration and space cartoons and movies after the 1950s that according to Professor Vesna, “really influenced popular culture in thinking about space” (Vesna). Some of these impacting shows and films include Star Trek, ET, The Jetsons, Star Wars, and Lost in Space to name a few (Vesna). It is important to note that these films are still heavily watched and viewed today. These are only a few examples of space and art impact, and there are several additional ones that are just as significant to the advancement of our world in space.




Works Cited

EamesOffice, director. Powers of Ten™ (1977). YouTube, YouTube, 26 Aug. 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0. 

Leonardo Space Art Project. “The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group.” Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers, spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html. 

Mars, Kelli. “50 Years Ago: Launch of Salyut, the World's First Space Station.” NASA, NASA, 19 Apr. 2021, www.nasa.gov/feature/50-years-ago-launch-of-salyut-the-world-s-first-space-station/#:~:text=On%20April%2019%2C%201971%2C%20the,the%20crew%20of%20Georgi%20T. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Space PT6.” YouTube, YouTube, 30 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYmOtFjIj0M&feature=youtu.be. 

Vesna, Victoria. “8 Space pt1 1280x720.” YouTube, YouTube, 29 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Space Intro.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 Mar. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzN08A6UBoo&feature=youtu.be. 



Comments

  1. Vivek ChotaiMay 27, 2022 at 9:13 PM

    Hi Alexandra,

    I like how you summarized so much information into a concise and clear blog post. I also think it's super cool how you matched the title with the color of the first image, which happens to be the thumbnail of your post! Color goes a long way :) I am curious to know what your opinion about space exploration is? Do you think it is a good idea to explore past our comfort zone and into the unknown? Or is it better to just be content and stay safe?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brian TamMay 29, 2022 at 11:14 PM

    Hi Alexandra,

    I enjoyed reading your post. I found that the introduction of your post is very insightful as you have elaborated on what we have learned from the past couple of weeks, and then talk about what we learned this week. I like how you introduce a different example of art that related to space, which provided a good introduction for people who do not understand space art.

    ReplyDelete
  3. john camposJune 4, 2022 at 12:34 PM

    Hello, I agree how this week was a great way to end the course because the field of space requires understanding of all the other topics we studied throughout this course in order to be able to explore it. I resonate with the LSP’s goal to propagate space art in order to inspire the next generation to explore space. I also think that the Powers of Ten documentary is a great concept because it makes us feel like we are in the nanotech realm. Lastly, it is crazy to think about how the Russian book was the first to come up with the idea of a space station which has since become a standard, normalized thing.

    ReplyDelete

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