Week 9 - Space and Art

Chelsey Bonestell's extraterrestrial landscape illustration, Saturn.

Humanity has always had a fascination with the cosmos. From Copernicus’ development of the heliocentric model to the launching of Sputnik, the world’s first satellite to enter space, people have strived to seek further into and understand the greater unknown universe. Yet, this human drive to explore the space environment sparks not only from scientific or political reasons but instead it also derives from a desire to understand the human experience via the cosmos itself (The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group).  It is here that a bridge between art and science can be discerned. Further, art is continuously utilized as a medium that ultimately impacts and shifts social opinion, value, and motivation -- not only can it be used as a representation of one’s self, it is utilized as a means to influence culture and society. Thus, artists can additionally utilize their work as a mechanism of developing humanity itself by utilizing these representations to shift culture towards embracing this space age. 

A poster of the 1951 film, When Worlds Collide

Some of the most recognizable examples of space exploration impacting media and fiction can be found in the television shows of the fifties and sixties. Science fiction in itself is a genre that was utilized to develop stories that explore the unknown realm of space, and it both celebrates and warns against the possibilities of this development in technology and space. Moreover, these science fiction TV shows of the 50s utilized themes of space and far-off fictional worlds to demonstrate contemporary anxieties regarding a possible nuclear war and overall danger. For example, the 1951 film, When Worlds Collide dislocated the U.S. fear of an atomic bombing to the destruction of the earth due to the collision of a nearby star. However, like many of these 50s films, the movie ends with the hope of human pursuance as the survivors take off on a rocket and land on an Earth-like planet where they can begin a new life. (O'Donnell) Hence, I believe that through science fiction and these shows, art convenes with space in order to influence society by not only reflecting the contemporary fears of nuclear war and invasion but also offer hope that ultimately, peace will reign and humanity can live in harmony.

Helen Bird's impressionist interpretation of the universe, titled Cosmic Impressionism

Beyond media, other artists also attempt to depict the overall wonder, excitement, vastness, and uncertainty of the cosmos in Space Art. This genre of artistry encompasses numerous facets, such as impressionism, realism, sculpture, and abstractism to communicate the pieces’ overall ideas. Many found space as a source of inspiration; as previously mentioned, many individual’s drives to explore space truly stemmed from their urge to explore the human experience and being and they aimed to do so by utilizing space itself. In fact, as mentioned by the International Association of Astronomical Artists, “The first photographs of the entire Earth by satellites and manned Apollo missions brought a new sense of our world as an island in empty space and promoted ideas of the essential unity of Humanity.” As such, many use Space Art to influence the overall culture by developing notions of sameness and unity for humans. Further, as more developments and scientific understandings of space are determined, humanity has attained a newfound destination in space as well as the technological means of finding it -- perhaps this shared goal can spark coalition and oneness in our disunified and divided world. 

WORKS CITED

Hotovy, Hannah. “NASA and Art: A Collaboration Colored with History.” NASA, NASA, 18 Apr. 2017, www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-and-art-a-collaboration-colored-with-history. 

“How Does Art Affect Culture and Society?” Masterpiece Mixers, 24 Aug. 2016, www.masterpiecemixers.com/art-affect-culture-society/

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

O'Donnell, Victoria. “Science Fiction Films and Cold War Anxiety.” Encyclopedia.com, Encyclopedia.com, www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/science-fiction-films-and-cold-war-anxiety. 

“What Is Space Art?” International Association of Astronomical Artists, iaaa.org/what-is-space-art/.

IMAGE CITATIONS

Bird, Helen. “Cosmic Impressionism.” Helen Bird Art, 24 Mar. 2015, helenbirdart.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/cosmic-impressionism/. 

Bonestell, Chesley. “Saturn.” Reddit, www.reddit.com/r/ScientificArt/comments/ezvmn8/saturn_by_chesley_bonestell/. 

Spry, John. “Blu-Ray Review: ‘When Worlds Collide’ (1951).” Spryfilm.com, 19 Oct. 2020, spryfilm.com/2020/10/19/blu-ray-review-when-worlds-collide-1951/.