Creators: Ashwathi Iyer and Reshmina William
Contributors: Cristina Schleiser and Sergio Perez
Stranded in Space is a movement piece, incorporating original music and writing, that reflects on the place of intelligent life in universe. Drawing inspiration from the Drake equation, Fermi’s paradox, the search for non-terrestrial life, and Carl Sagan’s role in the Pioneer and Voyager missions, this work takes the view that we are not particularly special in the grand scheme of the universe or physics. Nevertheless, earth and the life that it supports are special to us simply because there is nothing similar or accessible in the surrounding expanse.
The narrative consists of two characters – the universe personified, and a cosmologist who is caught up in the intricacies of the universe, both metaphorically and literally. Because of circumstances that are beyond the scope of this work, the cosmologist finds himself stuck in space after his tether to the ISS breaks. A snapshot of his thoughts in the ensuing 6-8 hours of his life is showcased through a combination of Indian classical dance, ballet, Gregorian chant, and modern classical music.
Special thanks to: Ash Busse, Wesley Foundation at UIUC, and Anika Jain
