The Sublime of SkyA Modern Transition in Skyscape

Dr. Daniel BrownNottingham Trent University

ContentIntroduction

Exploration in skyscapesAncientTelescopicContemporary

Differences and a way forward

Conclusions

Skyscape Experiences

The Sublime is generated by “… all general privations (which) are great because they are all terrible: Vacuity, Darkness, Solitude, and Silence.” (Burke 1757, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful)

“…Temperaments that posses a feeling of the sublime are drawn gradually, by the quiet stillness of a summer evening as the shimmering light of the stars break through the brown shadows of night and the lonely moon rises into view, into high feelings of friendship, of disdain for the world, of eternity.” (Kant 1764, Beobachtungen üder das Gefühl des Schönen und Erhabenen)

What … is happening psychologically within the force-field of the sublime experience when formal and objectively ordered social time is destabilized by some unstructured, informal and subjective ‘moment’ of heightened experience, a heightened time during which the self is radically altered by something that presses on us from beyond our normal reality, challenging the assumptions upon which such a reality is based(Morley 2010, The Contemporary Sublime)

Skyscape Experiences

Participants from Astronomy in the Park project (Brown 2013,2014,2015; Brown, Silva & Doran 2013)

“… because of the dark perhaps your hearing is more acute or some of your senses feel more in tune with what’s around you.”

“… I feel at one with the Universe, part of the Cosmos…”

“It’s overwhelmingly fabulous. I don’t know how else to describe it.”

“… there’s a direct connection between being on the Earth…and seeing stars in their boundless form in the Milky Way.”

“…you could feel the history…that was very evocative”

Skyscape Experiences

IntroductionSkyscape has to be experienced with all senses

Includes cyclic of cosmic rhythms

Described by dialectic landscape(see D Brown Skyscape: Present and Past in press TAG 2012)

Skyscape is experiencing the dialogue between landscape, sky and viewer(see B Brady - Dragons, Mountains and the Sky TAG 2013; B Lane Giving Voice to place 2001)

At this moment in time skyscape is understood

Viewer, landscape and sky become onein a holistic place experience (skyscape)

The holistic experience of skyscapeBrown (TAG 2013)

Exploration in skyscapes (Ancient)

Making sense of eternal cyclesSun, Moon, planets and stars

Skyscapes include concept of watching (anticipation, time experience)

Reinforced by natural and constructed features

Full Moon above Robin Hood’s Stride seen from Nine Stone Close, Peak District, UK

Exploration in skyscapes (Telescopic)

First observations of Galilean Moons (1610)

Example of the Eidouranion. A transparent upright orrery for public astronomy displays used by Adam Walker 1780

Mechanical &telescopic devices

See tiny details at vast distances

Simulate cosmic cycles to audience

Capturing instance in time

Removal from visual experience

Experience of time becomes less obvious

Engaging in dialogue is more contrived

Exploration in skyscapes (Telescopic) Orion Nebula Images M42 (star forming

region)

Popular astronomy guide bookThe Beauty of the Heavens (1849)

Geroge Bond (1859-63)Best hand drawn image of visual impression

Henry Draper (1882)First photographic image 137 min

exposureHubble (2004-5) false colour image

Mechanical &telescopic devices

See tiny details at vast distances

Simulate cosmic cycles to audience

Capturing instance in time

Removal from visual experience(Frankenstein Images - Elkins 2008)

Experience of time becomes less obvious

Engaging in dialogue is more contrived(Thinking tools – Cooperstein 2014; Suaréz 2007)

Sublime in Astronomy

Astronomy images resemble romantic landscapes of the American West, Kessler 2013

Ha wide field image around HD 92206, Brown 2004

Sublime in Astronomy

Astronomy images resemble romantic landscapes of the American West, Kessler 2013

Sublime in Astronomy

Astronomy images resemble romantic landscapes of the American West, Kessler 2013

Sublime in Astronomy

Astronomy images resemble romantic landscapes of the American West, Kessler 2013

Exploration in skyscapes (Contemporary)

The World At Night (TWAN - 2008)(Simmons & Tafreshi 2008)

Sky and cultural heritageunity of skyproviding context

Astronomy and Aesthetics (2008)(Smith & Smith 2010)

Going beyond just pretty picturesstressing importance of colour and scale

Timescapes & Timelapse (2012-14)(Lowe & Stanford (timescapes.org) 2012; Heffernan (SunchaserPictures.com) & Mehmedinović (Bloodhoney.com) 2014)

Embracing landscape, people and skyConveying time experience

TWAN 2013Our World of Shades and Silhouette

Bullet NebulaImproved way of engagement

Differences and a way forwardThe moment where skyscape lives is the instanceof the discovery of the sublime

The sublime is subjective and changes(compare Post-Modern Sublime: “one is free to propose what-ever one wishes as the type of stimulus which elicits the sublime response, McEvilley 2001)

The core experience remains but its contemporary facets alters

Infinity and the incomprehensibleEarth, Planets and Moon

Analysing the engagement with the sublime allows to see and communicate with skyscapes of the past

Conclusions

Conclusions

Engaging with skyscape means engaging with the sublime

Faces of the sublime are in transition(ancient – telescopic – contemporary)

Watching

Observing

TIME

Period

Moment

PEOPLE

Interior

Exterior

What remains:• Essence of sublime (infinity – vastness)• Means of engagement (temporality - metaphor)

Engaging with past Skyscape:Analyse the approach rather than the subject