A Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan

What is the context?

Carl Sagan was a world-renowned astronomer, professor, and astrophysicist during the 20^th century. From the 1980s to the early 1990s, Sagan was perhaps the most famous scientist in both the United States of America and abroad. As a professor in the 1970s, Sagan was incredibly progressive and successfully predicted the atmosphere of Venus. Moreover, Sagan was one of the first scientists to study life outside of Earth. He believed that extraterrestrial life existed somewhere in the universe but had never actually come in contact with Earth. Sagan became a national celebrity following his book Cosmos and the subsequent television series broadcast on PBS. Cosmos, created a comprehensive view on the universe for the average person.

The above passage is an excerpt from Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space is based upon a photograph taken of Earth from six billion kilometers away by the Voyager 1 space probe. The photograph is aptly titled Pale Blue Dot as Earth is simply faraway speck.  Sagan’s book is a mixture of philosophy and science as he grapples with the human place in the universe. The extracted passage is easily the most famous of both of Sagan’s books.

What is the artist communicating? How?

Sagan is attempting to make sense of the “smallness” of Earth in the Pale Blue Dot photograph. After seeing the photograph, one inevitably grapples his or her significance in the vast universe. Two themes in Sagan’s reaction to the photo are history and significance. The theme of history is quite apparent as Sagan literally outlines every type of person to have ever existed on the face of the planet Earth. He lists them out in the lengthy last sentence of the passage. The entire history of human life is so easily contained in a small blue speck on the horizon. Furthermore, Sagan contrasts two opposites throughout the list. This significant choice allows one to view history completely as one of both wins and losses.

 The other theme Sagan addresses is significance. By virtually listing every type of person to have ever been alive, Sagan makes one wonder his own importance. The earth is so insignificant to the universe. It is just a “mote of dust” suspended somewhere in infinity. Sagan’s diction truly emphasizes the theme of importance. Words such as “dot” and “mote” elaborate on the tininess that is the planet Earth. Sagan’s three-sentence commentary completely captures a whirlwind of emotions as one ponders his or her own smallness in the universe.

Why do you find it beautiful?

To me, this passage is utterly breathtaking and beautiful. In just three sentences, Sagan summarizes human existence while also forcing me to ponder my place in the universe. More often than not, I get caught up in the little things and stress out over the smallest detail. This passage reminds me to think of myself as a greater whole. My life on Earth is virtually irrelevant in the grand scheme of the universe. I suppose the passage brings out my inner cynic but it is also extremely comforting to know that infinity exists all around me. I like the fact that Sagan does not mince his words in the passage. He accurately captures my feelings of insignificance while also explaining that it is okay to worry about my life since it is the only one I know. As a human being, I am inherently forced to think about my life and myself as if it is the only thing that matters in the universe. Sagan’s passage is beautiful because it summarizes eternity in human terms. The people I encounter, love, and hate are all a part of the universe. My entire existence is based upon my experiences and my life on the pale blue dot.

The Blue Mosque

What is the context?

The Blue Mosque, also known as the Shrine of Ali, is located in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Sultan Ahmed Sanjar first constructed the mosque. The mosque was destroyed during Genghis Khan’s invasion of modern-day Afghanistan in 1220. It was reconstructed in the 1400s by Sultan Husain Mirza Bayqhara and finally opened to public in 1481. The mosque is also known as the shrine of Ali. Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and eventual son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Local stories claim that Ali’s remains were buried at the site of the mosque. A religious leader had a dream in which Ali directed him to the site and that caused Sultan Ahmed Sanjar to initially construct the mosque in his honor. However, the majority of Muslims believe his remains are actually buried at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najar, Iraq. The mosque houses the tombs of many Afghani rulers and religious leaders. The Blue Mosque is surrounded by various parklands and is a well-known public sanctuary from urban distractions. The Blue Mosque is made up of hundreds of thousands of costume made tiles arranged in various designs. In fact, the mosque has its own custom tiles shop. The major colors utilized in the Blue Mosque are shades of blues and yellows.

What is the artist communicating? How?

Two themes conveyed in the Blue Mosque are peace and calm. The country of Afghanistan is no stranger to turmoil and yet the mosque has withstood even the most brutal wars. The history of the mosque is easily seen in its tiles, as many of them are originals that have been remade. The Blue Mosque is one example of peace in an otherwise destructive city. It has withstood the test of time and still stands tall. The other theme conveyed in the Blue Mosque is calm. The colors of the tiles truly capture this feeling. Rather than being sensationalized, the blues are of multiple shades and draw the eye in numerous directions. And yet the overall feeling when looking at the mosque is one of serenity rather than overstimulation. Moreover, the various geometric designs on the individual tiles create beautiful mosaics that soothe the eye. In Islam, a mosque is the utmost place of calm and serenity as it allows a Muslim to escape worldly distractions and pray to God. The Blue Mosque is a sanctuary in itself and is further emphasized as one through its strikingly colored tiles and relatively simple design. Overall, the Blue Mosque is an example melding of various emotions in order to create a safe haven.

Why do you find it beautiful?

I have always enjoyed Islamic art and architecture. Specifically speaking, I enjoy visiting various mosques and seeing different Islamic influences. The first think I noticed about the Blue Mosque were the beautiful colors and how well they worked together. There is a stunning melding of various shades and hues to create an overall piece of art. I also like the story behind the Blue Mosque and what it stands for now. Its religious origins have transformed into a public park for people of all different cultures and religions. Afghanistan is known for various differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims but the Blue Mosque is a place of religious worship for both sects of Islam. Moreover, I find the Blue Mosque incredibly aesthetically pleasing. It resembles the sky and the sun in its use of blue and yellow. It is surrounded by white marble that further accentuates its look. The Blue Mosque is quite different than any mosque I have seen thus far. It is utterly unique and different. I find beauty in the mosque’s architecture as well. There are harsh lines paralleled with soft arches that create an interesting combination. Overall, the Blue Mosque is beautiful in its religious story, tenacity, and creative design.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father-- Directed by Kurt Kuenne

What is the context?

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a documentary directed by Kurt Kuenne. The documentary is a homage to Kuenne’s childhood friend, Andrew Bagby who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend. Through various court proceedings, it is discovered that Bagby’s ex-girlfriend, Shirley Turner, was pregnant at the time of the murder. Their son, Zachary, is the one that initially began Kuenne on his extensive journey to collect various recording and mementos of Andrew after his murder. The documentary follows Kuenne as he visits various childhood friends, family members, fellow medical students of Andrew, etc. in order to gather as much information about him as possible so that Zachary may have something to learn about his late father. The documentary also follows the court case of the murder as well as the subsequent events in the Bagby family’s life. Following its release in January 2008, the documentary was nominated for numerous awards and won the National Board of Review Award for a top five documentary film. Moreover, it has been met with excellent critic reviews and revered as one of the top documentaries of the decade. Overall, Dear Zachary is an excellent true crime documentary.

What is the artist communicating? How?

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is one of the best documentary films I have ever seen (just for reference: I watch a lot of documentaries). Kuenne is able to tell the story of Andrew Bagby’s life as well as capture his very essence in less than two hours. The two themes Kuenne attempts to convey in his movie are awareness and tragedy. Kuenne allows viewers an intimate view into the life of a murder victim. The documentary is meant to create awareness for Bagby’s unfortunate murder but mostly to show his uplifting life. Throughout the film, Kuenne cuts and combines various loved ones’ words to create a true picture of Andrew. Moreover, his simple editing and lack of obnoxious or overpowering music during climactic scenes allows Andrew’s life story to be told in an intimate and genuine manner. The second theme in Dear Zachary is tragedy. The story is a tragedy from the very beginning but Kuenne very successfully is able to make a commentary on the entire situation. Shirley Temple was allowed to walk free even though she murdered Andrew. Kuenne is able to perfectly capture the very heartbreak of that allowance in the lives of Andrew’s loved ones. Simple interviews with Andrew’s parents clearly showed the pain Shirley caused them.

Why do you find it beautiful?

As previously mentioned, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, is not the first documentary film I have watched. However, it easily ranks in my top three favorite movies of all time. Kuenne did a wonderful job in involving the viewer in the story. Within the first half of the film, I felt like I was one of Andrew’s friends that knew him so well. Moreover, it is extremely easy to be invested in this film from the very beginning. Perhaps that is why I find the movie so beautiful. It allows me to gain an intimate view into someone’s life and look beyond the sensational murder story. The film truly tugged on my heartstrings. I have never cried in a movie before, but I came close while watching Dear Zachary. The ending is absolutely heart wrenching and that is what makes it beautiful. Truth be told, there is no happy ending in Dear Zachary nor does Kuenne attempt to create such a false ending. The documentary is raw and real and that is why it is so beautiful. It is able to play on one’s emotions without being overly dramatic. Furthermore, it captures the ugly reality of death in a family and the difficulty it takes to overcome such a tragedy.

An Unnamed Eric Zener Painting

What is the context?

Eric Zener is an American-born painter best known for his photorealistic oil paintings. Photorealism is an art form in which a photograph is taken and replicated with extreme precision and detail in another medium. In Zener’s case, much of his photorealistic oil paintings revolve around swimming pools. His works are greatly valued in the art community and are frequently bought by both public and private art collectors. Moreover, Zener’s hyper-realistic paintings often retail for tens of thousands of dollars. Many of his paintings capture women in various stages of diving, swimming, etc. in a swimming pool. When asked of his choice of mainly painting scenes revolving around water, Zener said that to him water represents a transformation. As one submerges himself inside a body of water, he is escaping the world and retreating into an endless vacuum of silence and thoughts. Moreover, when emerging from water, one reenters the world in a different manner then in which he left the world (i.e, one is dry when entering a swimming pool and wet upon leaving it). Zener specifically pays attentions to colors, reflections, and lights in his paintings as he attempts to make them as close to the original photograph as possible. Overall, his unique perspective is key to his paintings.

What is the artist communicating? How?

The above, unnamed painting is unique in Zener’s body of work. For one, it is one of few of his paintings without blue water. Moreover, Zener’s choice model is nude and in the fetal position whereas the majority of his paintings capture women as they glide across the water in bathing suits. Zener is communicating the themes of sorrow and repenting in the above painting. The theme of sorrow is immediately apparent. The nude woman is curled into a helpless position and appears to be sinking into blackness. The colors of the painting are extremely dark and moody, further emphasizing this woman’s sorrow. She is simply allowing herself to be pulled into darkness even as she is breathing out air. Furthermore, Zener’s choice to virtually eliminate any sort of light or reflection in the backdrop of the painting captures the woman’s turmoil in a bleak situation. The theme of repenting is also quite apparent in the painting. As the woman is breathing out air bubbles, she is also breathing out little parts of herself. These may be anything from toxic memories to personal sins and she is letting herself get rid of them. Furthermore, the theme of repenting is obvious in the fact that the only light in the painting is the one reflecting off the woman’s skin. As she is ridding herself of these harmful memories, more light is reflecting on her skin thereby pulling her from the darkness of the surrounding water and her own personal world.

Why do you find it beautiful?

I find this painting to be extremely haunting. As I look at it, I wonder just what the woman is attempting to escape by essentially submerging herself into a well of darkness. I wonder what has put the woman in such a desperate and animalistic position. She no longer resembles an adult and has instead reverted into a child through her fetal position. Moreover, her position is representative of her torrential and unwavering darkness. To me the overall bleakness in this painting is what makes in beautiful. I want to learn more about this woman and yet I want to leave her to wallow in her own self-harming behavior. Perhaps I see myself in this woman and that is why I am so inexplicably drawn to the painting. There have been multiple times in which I have retreated into myself with desperation to escape my problems or worries of the moment. I suppose some part of me envies this woman’s ability to literally block it all out by submerging herself in water. I also find beauty in the fact that the painting is unnamed. It is as if one could simply replace himself with the woman in the painting and nothing would be amiss.

"Stuck on the Puzzle" by Alex Turner

What is the context?

Alex Turner is the lead singer of the fast-selling UK band, the Arctic Monkeys as well as being involved in numerous individual projects.  In 2011, the song “Stuck on the Puzzle” was released as part of a soundtrack for the movie Submarine, an independent film in which the protagonist deals with both his and his mother’s love life. Turner was asked to create an exclusive soundtrack for the film by his close friend and director of the movie. Turner’s music primarily focuses on love and its subsequent effects. “Stuck on the Puzzle” is perhaps the most popular song on the soundtrack. Turner has never performed the soundtrack live and it is one of his lesser-known works. This song is a step away form Turner’s usual style in the Arctic Monkeys. The majority of his music is angrier and maybe even venomous. However, this song is gentler and softer. Four out of the five songs on the soundtrack are acoustic; meaning the only instrument in them is a simple guitar. This is far different then Turner’s usual songs full of heavy drums and heady beats. “Stuck on the Puzzle” is a truly memorable quasi love song that both captures and differentiates the essence of Turner’s usual work.

What is the artist communicating? How?

“Stuck on the Puzzle” is the story of a boy completely enamored by his love for a girl with great “magnetism”. Throughout the song, the male speaker is trying to figure out the girl and is “stuck on the puzzle” that is her very being. One theme communicated by Turner in the song is admiration. The male speaker is constantly wondering just what makes this girl different. Another theme Turner addresses is loneliness. The male speaker of the song is simply watching the girl from afar. It is almost as if he knows his place and understands that he will never be lucky enough to be loved by the girl. The simple beat playing in the background of the song is reminiscent of a beating heart further showing the speaker’s deep admiration and unwavering love for the girl he so admires. Moreover, Turner’s soothingly single voice over the track emphasizes the loneliness the boy struggles with and his feelings for a girl that will simply always be out of reach. Furthermore, the slow rhythm of the song evokes feelings of serenity while the lyrics contrast this with a tone of deep yearning.

Why do you find it beautiful?

I first heard this song in the movie Submarine and was immediately struck by its uniqueness. The rhythm throughout the song is soothing and slow but the lyrics stand out. When listening to a song, the first thing I notice while listening to a song are the types of words used in the lyrics. Turner’s interesting use of words such as “magnetism” and “puzzle” appealed to me in a different way. “Stuck on the Puzzle” is my favorite song and has been since I first heard it, which is quite a unique situation. My music taste changes every week and I usually end up mildly disliking my once favorite songs. I think the reason that “Stuck on the Puzzle” has remained my favorite song for over a year is due to its lyrics. The song is beautiful because it calls to my inner feelings. In four minutes, Turner is able to create a story of yearning, loneliness, and admiration and there is definite genius in that. In order for a song to be beautiful, it must mean something and every time I listen to “Stuck on the Puzzle” I find different meaning in it. The song caters to my moodiness or evokes sweet dreams of love. Simply put, “Stuck on the Puzzle” is absolutely beautiful.