WEEK 9: SPACE & ART

SPACE AND ART

Space is often referred to as the final frontier. Although we have ventured out into space and documented our travels with pictures and diagrams, it is hard to comprehend the magnitude of space. In the “Powers of Ten” video from this week’s materials, we can see a mathematical approach on how to scale our universe as a factor of ten. The video maps out our universe by focusing in on a small spot on earth and then expanding out by ten meters. From the small spot on earth, to the entire universe, and then focusing back in on the small spot, mathematics helps us survey space in a way that is comprehendible through the factor of ten.

As I said before, many photographs of space have been taken, and these pieces of art are truly wonderful. We have all sorts of pictures from space, taken by satellites, space crafts, and even men on the moon. Saying it simply, art captures beauty. Art can transform our perception of objects into something completely different.

One photograph in particular, the Pale Blue Dot, speaks volumes artistically. In relation to the “Powers of Ten” video, the Pale Blue Dot shows earth far off in the distance that appears to be just a tiny blue circle. Common knowledge tells us that Earth is a massive object, but the artistic use of a vantage point shows us that earth is far off in the distance, appearing to be just a blue spec. The apparent depth of this picture depicts the vast nature of space.

WORKS CITED:

Fulmer, Kyle. "Space and Art." - NASA Watch. NASA, 5 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 May 2015.

"Powers of ten." Youtube. Eames Office, 26 Aug 2010. Web. 29 May 2015. 

Sagan, Carl. "Pale Blue Dot." Youtube. CarlSaganPortal, 24 Mar 2009. Web. 29 May 2015.

Vensa, Victoria. "Space Exploration Plus Art." Youtube. Uconlineprogram, 29 Jul 2013. Web. 29 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. DESMA 9. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.