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Re-presenting the Universe: The Cosmic Perspective and its Expressions in Carl Sagan's Cosmos

Helsing, Daniel LU (2012) LIVR41 20121
Master's Programme: Literature - Culture - Media
Comparative Literature
Abstract
In this thesis, Carl Sagan’s television series and book Cosmos is studied. Theories and concepts from literary studies (and related fields) are used to analyze the so-called “cosmic perspective”. The cosmic perspective is shown to be complex, composed of four different but related perspectives: space; time; humanity and cosmic evolution; and history of science and exploration. A number of ambiguities are found within the expressions of these perspectives. The concepts and theories used in the analyses are taken from intermediality studies, genre theory, Russian formalism, and narratology. The concepts and theories are used to analyze a work in a genre not usually recognized as literary, namely popular science. An additional aim of the... (More)
In this thesis, Carl Sagan’s television series and book Cosmos is studied. Theories and concepts from literary studies (and related fields) are used to analyze the so-called “cosmic perspective”. The cosmic perspective is shown to be complex, composed of four different but related perspectives: space; time; humanity and cosmic evolution; and history of science and exploration. A number of ambiguities are found within the expressions of these perspectives. The concepts and theories used in the analyses are taken from intermediality studies, genre theory, Russian formalism, and narratology. The concepts and theories are used to analyze a work in a genre not usually recognized as literary, namely popular science. An additional aim of the thesis is to show that the language and narratives of Cosmos possess literary characteristics. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Helsing, Daniel LU
supervisor
organization
course
LIVR41 20121
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Carl Sagan, Cosmos, popular science, narratology, Russian formalism, genre theory, intermediality studies, nature, the universe, cosmic perspective, literature
language
English
id
2628436
date added to LUP
2012-06-14 10:57:57
date last changed
2012-06-14 10:57:57
@misc{2628436,
  abstract     = {{In this thesis, Carl Sagan’s television series and book Cosmos is studied. Theories and concepts from literary studies (and related fields) are used to analyze the so-called “cosmic perspective”. The cosmic perspective is shown to be complex, composed of four different but related perspectives: space; time; humanity and cosmic evolution; and history of science and exploration. A number of ambiguities are found within the expressions of these perspectives. The concepts and theories used in the analyses are taken from intermediality studies, genre theory, Russian formalism, and narratology. The concepts and theories are used to analyze a work in a genre not usually recognized as literary, namely popular science. An additional aim of the thesis is to show that the language and narratives of Cosmos possess literary characteristics.}},
  author       = {{Helsing, Daniel}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Re-presenting the Universe: The Cosmic Perspective and its Expressions in Carl Sagan's Cosmos}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}