Unlike either Tarkovsky’s or Soderbergh’s film versions, both of whom seem to have taken Muntius’ interpretation of Solaris to heart, Lem’s 1961 novel suggests that Solaris remains alien, something that humanity’s cataloging and ordering cannot explain.
Archive | January, 2004
Nostalgic Angels: New Media Today
If nothing else, Gary Wolf’s article “The Great Library of Amazonia” makes clear that we are nostalgic angels, still clinging to an epistemology of atoms while at the same time looking forward to the freedom of bits.
We Want Mirrors
I watched Soderbergh’s Solaris again last night to try and get this paper going. I was again captivated by the visuals that seemed to pay homage to Tarkovsky’s love of flow. If Tarkovsky had had access to the latest in CG technology, would he have used it?
Hemingway’s "Indian Camp"
“Indian Camp” is one of several stories that Hemingway wrote concerning the coming-of-age of Nick Adams. Nick, like those of us reading his story, attempts to glean meaning from his experiences so that he can better understand himself and how he fits into the world at large. Like the reader, Nick’s experience encounters other experiences, [...]
Gwen Sell
I only knew Gwen for a short time, but the experience I had with her was positive. I know that Gwen was well-liked by her colleagues and students: she was awarded Outstanding Teacher Award at Macon State College last year. She always had a smile for me and always encouraged me as a new faculty [...]
The Taming of Nature in Gilgamesh
Well, since the beginning, humans (why do I want to write “man” here?) have had divine sanction to do whatever it is they desire to the flora and fauna (“creeping things”) of the earth. Many have taken this to heart and continue to use the word of the God of Genesis as authority to rape, pillage, and squander all that the natural world has to offer.
Tarkovsky’s Solaris
Tarkovsky’s Solaris portrays humanity’s attempt to understand that which is beyond the scope of our creation. The characters make contact with the truly alien and try to conceive of this presence in terms dictated by their science and ration understand, but fail miserably.
