Week 9: Space + Art

In this week’s lecture, the exploration of space and its profound influence on art was a key topic of discussion. The "Power of Ten" video vividly illustrates the cosmic reality that, while our corner of the universe teems with celestial bodies and dynamic phenomena, most of the cosmos remains a silent void. This stark emptiness is a testament to the profound isolation that characterizes outer space.

Art can be a powerful tool in science engagement efforts to help facilitate learning and public discourse around space and space exploration (Molaro). Today, advancements in nanotechnology play a crucial role in space exploration. The discovery of buckyballs—cage-like carbon structures formed in space—demonstrates how molecules and elements travel across the cosmos to Earth. It also inspires artists to create artworks that combine cultures of microscopic organisms and data from space probes and planetary landers (Gracie 7). 

Picture 1: Star Trek Fleet Command

Aesthetic design considerations are becoming increasingly prominent in the realm of space development and exploration, as well as in societal arts (Chang 356). Visionaries like Jules Verne foresaw weightlessness and space stations in his 1865 science fiction works, even imagining orbital elevators. NASA's ongoing efforts to turn such science fiction into reality highlight the thin line between imagination and innovation. Artists who lived through the 1950s and 60s were deeply influenced by the space race, witnessing events like the launch of Sputnik and the first human moon landing (Chang 44).

Space exploration as we know it began in earnest after World War II, fueled by the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War. The Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957, marked the dawn of the space age, prompting the United States to establish NASA in 1958. This space race not only spurred technological advancements but also transformed educational systems, fostering a generation of students passionate about math and science. During this period, the fascination with space travel permeated stage, literature, and science fiction (Andrews 82).


Picture 2: Apollo 11 Crew


Picture 3: Sputnik 1


As we continue our journey into the final frontier, the blend of scientific discovery, technological innovation, and imaginative storytelling will undoubtedly propel humanity forward, exploring the infinite possibilities that space holds.



Works Cited:


Andrews, James. “Storming the Stratosphere: Space Exploration, Soviet Culture, and the Arts from Lenin to Khrushchev’s Times.” Russian History (Pittsburgh), vol. 36, no. 1, 2009, pp. 77–87, https://doi.org/10.1163/187633109X412302.


Chang, Yi-Wei (Eva). “Distinguished Aesthetics Achievements and Heritage in the Space-Age Paintings Inspired by Space Exploration.” Acta Astronautica, vol. 209, 2023, pp. 43–47, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.03.035.


Chang, Yi-Wei (eva). “Space-Age Aesthetics in Modern Art Inspired by Space Exploration: A Brief Study on Installation, Painting and Music Art.” Acta Astronautica, vol. 199, 2022, pp. 355–63, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.06.039.


Glen E. Swanson, ed. (August 5, 2004). SP-4223: Before This Decade is Out—Personal Reflections on the Apollo Program—Chapter 9—Glynn S. Lunney. NASA. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-16-050139-5. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. 


Gracie, Andy. “Art, Space and Hyperreality: An Artistic Exploration of Artificiality, Meaning and Boundaries within Astrobiological Practice.” Leonardo (Oxford), vol. 49, no. 1, 2016, pp. 6–33, https://doi.org/10.1162/LEON_a_00925.


Molaro, Jamie L. “The Art of Planetary Science: Art as a Tool for Scientific Inquiry and Public Discourse around Space Exploration.” arXiv.Org, 2023, https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2309.06552.


Sierra. “Gorn Eviscerator’s Improved Warp Range”. Star Trek Fleet Command. May 20, 2024. https://startrekfleetcommand.com/


"Sputnik 1, Earth's First Artificial Satellite in Photos". SPACE.com. 4 October 2020.

Comments

  1. Shania HaoJune 2, 2024 at 4:31 AM

    Hi Amy,
    I think you captured the development of space discoveries throughout the years very well. I am sure that artwork was teeming with passion and exciting interpretations of the space race, as is the case now. I attended an online event, in which an astrophysicist by the name of Santiago Torres discusses how art can be created using aspects of space. For example, ALMA sounds are used in modern day electronic music, which uses sounds directly from space/the universe. Thanks to the amazing discoveries by astronomers, many people can enjoy bits and pieces of the universe through artwork.

    ReplyDelete

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