Week 9: Space and Art

In this week's lesson, Vesna gave the class a history on space and how it has impacted the United States. The U.S. began with tension with Russia during the Cold War and the arms race became the center of attention in the 50s. Moreover, she continued to explain the Space Race that the U.S. and Russia competed in. During this time, Russia became the first country to finally launch something into space—a probe named Sputnik
Sputnik, the first Object to be launched successfully into pace
(done by Russia)
—while the U.S.'s attempt to follow was called Flopnik, due to the fact that the rocket blew up before it event left the ground. Additionally, one of the main things that caught my attention throughout the lectures was her reference to science fiction as well as cartoons and how they focused on space as a topic. She showed a clip of the Jetsons and the Flintstones trying to work together to send the Jetson family back to space.
Flintstones visiting the Jetsons in their futuristic space home
 This cartoon shows different technological advancements that, while still fictional and over exaggerated, captures the audience by intriguing them with new ideas and situations involving space and future technology. Additionally, Arthur C. Clarke's science fiction novel The Fountains of Paradise talks about the development of the space elevator in the 22nd century.
Space Elevator mentioned in The Fountain of Paradise
This is an idea that is being revisited by scientists, proving that science fiction is the "vision for the future that scientists have followed." I love the intersection between art and science here through fictional and cartoon depictions of space and the technological advancements that comes with it.  






Works Cited 

Vesna, Victoria. "8 space pt1 1280x720." YouTube.com. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8&feature=youtu.be.  


 Vesna, Victoria. "8 space pt2 1280x720." YouTube.com. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLZMDpoP-u0&feature=youtu.be.

Vesna, Victoria. "8 space pt3 1280x720." YouTube.com. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WOqt_C55Mk&feature=youtu.be.    


 Vesna, Victoria. "Space pt4." YouTube.com. 30  May 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ClKO6AJPo&feature=youtu.be.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space pt6." YouTube.com. 30  May 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYmOtFjIj0M&feature=youtu.be.


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