Carl Sagan – astronomer, author, astrophysicist – narrates the story of the Pale Blue Dot, a tiny speck of light that contains all of human history. This humbling perspective helps us understand our place in the universe, challenging our preconceptions and imagined self-importance.
Text from the video:
I’ve been enrolled in illustration at Sheridan College for the the last 4 years and this is my final thesis project. I have always thought of Carl Sagan’s writings as “scientific poetry” since they lack the cold touch that science is often cursed for having. I think Sagan’s words resonate more than ever, and will continue with each generation until the human species “wakes up”. The first time I heard this excerpt from his book “Pale Blue Dot” it literally changed my life, and I hope it does for you too. Enjoy.
Written and Narrated: Carl Sagan
Music: Hans Zimmer “You’re So Cool”
Art and Animation: Adam Winnik
June 1, 2011 at 9:00 am
PALE-BLUE-DOT Astronomers:
Although Ptolemy thought the Sun revolved around the Earth, he also concluded that the Earth should be treated as a mathematical point in the Universe. Now, since a mathematical point is infinitely smaller than a “pale blue dot,” do we conclude that Ptolemy must be humbler, wiser, and “cooler” than modern astronomers? Well, maybe I’m being nasty and objective, when I should be misty-eyed and subjective. I might be a candidate for sensitivity training – with “cartoons.”
Unlike Pale-Blue-Dot astronomers, I don’t try to feel-the-pain of the robbed (nor do I try to feel-the-pleasure of the robbers). To pretend to know the pain of others is to belittle the pain of others.
From a comfortable armchair or a speaker’s podium, all human trials (pains, pleasures, joys, loves, etc.) can only be reduced to a “pale blue dot” by exceptional Pride – not insightful thinking. Trying to synthesize people with their planet is called Pantheism – not Astronomy.
Best Regards,
Frank Hatch
Initial Mass Displacements
January 1, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Fantastic job!
Regreats from Portugal!