Outer Space and Popular Culture: Influences and Interrelations PDF
Preview Outer Space and Popular Culture: Influences and Interrelations
Southern Space Studies Series Editor: Annette Froehlich Annette Froehlich Editor Outer Space and Popular Culture Influences and Interrelations Southern Space Studies Series Editor Annette Froehlich , University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa Advisory Editors Josef Aschbacher, European Space Agency, Frascati, Italy Rigobert Bayala, National Observatory of Sustainable Development, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Carlos Caballero León, Peruvian Space Agency, Lima, Peru Guy Consolmagno, Vatican Observatory, Castel Gandolfo, Vatican City State Juan de Dalmau, International Space University, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France Driss El Hadani, Royal Center for Remote Sensing of Morocco, Rabat, Morocco Dirk Heinzmann, Bundeswehr Command and Staff College, Hamburg, Germany El Hadi Gashut, Regional Center For Remote Sensing of North Africa States, Tunis, Tunisia Peter Martinez, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa FranciscoJavierMendieta-Jiménez,MexicanSpaceAgency,MexicoCity,Mexico Félix Clementino Menicocci, Argentinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Buenos Aires, Argentina Sias Mostert, African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment, Muizenburg, South Africa Val Munsami, South African National Space Agency, Silverton, South Africa Greg Olsen, Entrepreneur-Astronaut, Princeton, NJ, USA Azzedine Oussedik, Algerian Space Agency, Alger, Algeria Xavier Pasco, Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique, Paris, France Alejandro J. Román M., Paraguayan Space Agency, Asunción, Paraguay Kai-Uwe Schrogl, International Institute of Space Law, Paris, France Dominique Tilmans, YouSpace, Wellin, Belgium Jean-Jacques Tortora, European Space Policy Institute, Vienna, Austria The Southern Space Studies series presents analyses of space trends, market evolutions,policies,strategiesandregulations,aswellastherelatedsocial,economic and political challenges of space-related activities in the Global South, with a particular focus on developing countries in Africa and Latin America. Obtaining insideinformationfromemergingspace-faringcountriesintheseregionsispivotal to establish and strengthen efficient and beneficial cooperation mechanisms in the space arena, and to gain a deeper understanding of their rapidly evolving space activities.Tothisend,theseriesprovidestransdisciplinaryinformationforafruitful development of space activities in relevant countries and cooperation with established space-faring nations. It is, therefore, a reference compilation for space activitiesintheseareas. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/16025 Annette Froehlich Editor Outer Space and Popular Culture Influences and Interrelations 123 Editor Annette Froehlich Department ofElectrical Engineering/SpaceLab University of Cape Town Rondebosch,SouthAfrica ISSN 2523-3718 ISSN 2523-3726 (electronic) SouthernSpace Studies ISBN978-3-030-22655-8 ISBN978-3-030-22656-5 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22656-5 ©SpringerNatureSwitzerlandAG2020 Thisworkissubjecttocopyright.AllrightsarereservedbythePublisher,whetherthewholeorpart of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission orinformationstorageandretrieval,electronicadaptation,computersoftware,orbysimilarordissimilar methodologynowknownorhereafterdeveloped. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publicationdoesnotimply,evenintheabsenceofaspecificstatement,thatsuchnamesareexemptfrom therelevantprotectivelawsandregulationsandthereforefreeforgeneraluse. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained hereinorforanyerrorsoromissionsthatmayhavebeenmade.Thepublisherremainsneutralwithregard tojurisdictionalclaimsinpublishedmapsandinstitutionalaffiliations. ThisSpringerimprintispublishedbytheregisteredcompanySpringerNatureSwitzerlandAG Theregisteredcompanyaddressis:Gewerbestrasse11,6330Cham,Switzerland Preface The contemporary space arena is undergoing a phase of rapid expansion and transformationastherangeofspaceactors,activities,andcapabilitiesareincreasing aroundtheglobe,includingintheSouth.Asnewrisingspaceactorsenterthefield, space is also playing an ever greater role in driving innovation and economic growth,furtherdeepeningitsimpactonthedailylivesofbillionsofpeople.Indeed, italreadyformspartofthe‘invisibleplumbing’ofmodernsocietyinareassuchas telecommunications, banking, navigation, Earth observation, and weather fore- casting, among others. For the most part, public attention is drawn on the more ‘glamorous’aspectsofspace,whichhavealsobecomedeeplyembeddedinmodern popular culture, especially through the visual and performing arts, with many examplesofpopularspace-themedfilmsandmarketingcampaigns.Despitethis,the interrelationship between space and popular culture has been underexplored in scientific literature, particularly the ways in which space has become embedded in popular culture and consciousness—a gap this volume seeks to fill. Accordingly, this publication provides a detailed description of how space and popular culture intersect across a broad spectrum of popular media including cin- ema, music, art, arcade games, cartoons, comics, advertisements, and others, with an analysis of how the space figures in the particular context/s chosen. This is a pertinenttopicsincetheuseofspacethemesdiffersbasedonculturalcontexts,and space themes can be used to explore various aspects of the human condition and provide a detached context for social commentary on politically sensitive issues. Therefore, special attention is also paid to accounts of space and its effect on culture, language, and storytelling from the South. Rondebosch, South Africa Dr. Annette Froehlich May 2019 v Contents 1 The Influence of Mass Media on Society’s Views of Space Travel During the Cold War. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Nicolas Ringas 2 Space and Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Eunice Pieterse 3 The Use of Space in a Meaningful Manner as Part of Popular Culture in the Form of the Science Fiction Film. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Anton de Waal Alberts 4 The Role of Space in Aesthetic and Practical Design of Automobiles: A Look at Five Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 James Wilson 5 Space Robots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Karmini Konar 6 Artificial Gravity in Popular Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Carl Eriksen 7 Youngsters, Dreams and Motivation for Space Exploration . . . . . . 63 Nasir Mehmood 8 Clowns in Space: An Introduction to Circus Aliens and Spaced-Out Comic Performers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Anna-Sophie Jürgens 9 Keeping the Torch Burning for ‘Good Science’ in Popular Culture: Video Games, Space, and Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 André Siebrits 10 Regarding Influences of Space on Popular Culture via the Medium of Science Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Neal Prins 11 Unspoiled Space: The Use of Space in Popular Culture as a Caution Against Environmental Degradation on Earth . . . . . . 117 David Lindgren vii viii Contents 12 Predictions of Science Fiction That Came True . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Mónica Estébanez Camarena 13 Seven Billion Deer in the Headlights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Bas Martens 14 Hope at the Frontier: Firefly and the Value of Space Exploration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Mehak Sarang 15 The Space Activities of Animals in African Fairy Tales in Light of International Space Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Annette Froehlich 1 The Influence of Mass Media on Society’s Views of Space Travel During the Cold War Nicolas Ringas Abstract This article explores how the two world superpowers during the Cold War, the UnitedStatesofAmericaandtheUnionofSovietSocialistRepublics,usedmass mediaasatooltorallysupportandinvokenationalisticpridefortheirrespective space programmes. Five specific examples of mass media, including magazine articles, films and posters, are analysed in this context. It also discusses the unique socio-economic setting of the Space Race and how the need for space superiorityledtotheunprecedentedinvestment,developmentandbreakthroughs in space technologies. 1.1 Introduction “In my opinion, it will be possible to launch an artificial Earth satellite within the next two years.” Leonid Sedov’s above statement, delivered at a press conference held at the 6th International Astronautical Congress, on the 2nd of August 1955, commencedtheSpaceRace.Fourdayspriortothis,thePressSecretaryofPresident N.Ringas(&) UniversityoftheWitwatersrand,Johannesburg,SouthAfrica e-mail:[email protected] UniversityofCapeTown,CapeTown,SouthAfrica ©SpringerNatureSwitzerlandAG2020 1 A.Froehlich(ed.),OuterSpaceandPopularCulture,SouthernSpaceStudies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22656-5_1 2 N.Ringas Eisenhower, James Haggerty, formally announced America’s plans to launch “Earth-circling satellites” as part of the International Geophysical Year (IGY).1 These announcements were made during the peak of the Cold War, a geopo- litical war raging between the United States of America (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The war between the two world superpowers wasabattleoftwoideologies:capitalismversuscommunism.Thewarcommenced shortly after the end of World War Two, with mistrust between the two super- powers at unparalleled highs.2 The two superpowersnever engaged incombatwith oneanotherdirectly asthe consequencesweretoodiretorisk.Instead,thewarwasfoughtusingproxywarsand client states, with the threat of Mutual Assured Destruction the main deterrent for combat.AfterWorldWarII,boththeSovietsandtheAmericans obtained brilliant Germanrocketscientists,initiatingafrenziedarmsracetodevelopnuclearwarhead capabilities. Espionage became a vital role to both powers, with each trying to determine the full capabilities of the other. Massive propaganda campaigns were initiated,eachwiththeintentofpromotingtheirownideologyanddiscreditingthe other.3Nationalpridesoaredinthetwocountries,witheachsmallvictoryinsports, technologyorindustrybeinglaudedasahugesuccessofeitherideology.However, withthisdeep-rootednationalism,fearsofanuclearapocalypsegrippedthepublic.4 Theaboveservestocontextualisethesocio-economicsettingoftheSpaceRace. Space became an international stage on which the two superpowers could exhibit their technological advancements and military strength. Technological superiority in space became an issue of national security and national pride, the attainment of which became deeply ingrained in the general public’s minds. These notions were further aggregated with the success of Sputnik 1 in 1957. Martin Summerfield of Princeton University’s Astronautics editorial stated: “The success of the Russian Sputnik was convincing and dramatic proof to the people around the world of the real prospects of space travel. The fact that a 23 in. sphere weighing 184 lb has beenplacedinanalmostprecisecircularorbitindicatesthatanumberofimportant technological problems such as high thrust rocket engines, lightweight missile structures, accurate guidance, stable autopilot control, and large scale launching methods have been solved…”5 The national space programmes of the two superpowers grew exponentially during the Cold War. Military budgets, coupled with mass public support, fuelled advancementsinspacetravelatafreneticrate.Intheyear1959,lessthan30tonnes 1J.Logsdonetal.,ReconsideringSputnik:FortyYearssincetheSovietSatellite,PsychologyPress, 2000. 2W.McDougall,TheHeavensandtheEarth:aPoliticalHistoryintheSpaceAge,BasicBooks, NewYork,1985. 3G.Palotta,SpaceRacePropaganda:USAvsUSSR.AMatterofPosters,PaoloaCasoliBlog,30 Dec 2014, URL: www.paolacasoli.com/2014/12/space-race-propaganda-usa-vs-urss-a-matter-of- posters/,lastaccessed11Mar2018. 4W.McDougall,TheHeavensandtheEarth:aPoliticalHistoryintheSpaceAge,BasicBooks, NewYork,1985. 5M.Summerfield,ProblemsofLaunchinganEarthSatellite,Astronautics,USA,Nov1957.
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