*********************************
There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
*********************************
Lisa Yaszek, professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communications (Photo by Georgia Tech)LMC Professor Lisa Yaszek’s insights about solar eclipses in science, fiction, and culture were the focus of the article of “Solar Eclipses Have Been a Science Fiction Theme for Thousands of Years: How Storytellers throughout History Have Used the Phenomenon to Portray Terror, Emotional Stakes, and More” in Vox Media.
Excerpt:
As millions of Americans prepare to witness the first total solar eclipse in the U.S .in 38 years, I turned to Lisa Yaszek, a professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech University and former president of the Science Fiction Research Association, to discuss the history, meanings, and accuracy of eclipses in fiction. Here’s what I learned.
The following interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What are the key scientific aspects of a solar eclipse that must be present for an accurate depiction?
In the case of a solar eclipse on Earth, authors and directors want to make sure they get all the heavenly objects in question lined up, and that it’s clear the moon is between the sun and the Earth. They also want to make sure they’ve got a duration that makes sense. Solar eclipses usually last just a few minutes, while lunar eclipses can go on for hours.
Read full article
