We had a short screening of Charles and Ray Eames‘ “Powers of Ten” at our recent Christmas dinner.
Produced in 1977, “Powers of Ten” is one of the best known films done by the Eames, known largely for their contribution to furniture design. Inspired by Kees Boeke’s “Cosmic View” (which was written to demonstrate to school children a wide and connected view of the world), the Eames created the film to make science and technology interesting and accessible.
From the perspective of a camera zooming out of, then into a person on a lawn, in powers of ten, the viewer’s consciousness of space, the universe, and the microscopic structures of our bodies heightens dramatically.
So, are we mere atomic structures, and inconsequential particles in the great expanse? It sometimes feels that way. But, the inter-connectedness of the universe, the structure of human existence, and the sustaining of human life within this universe all speak of deliberation and purpose.
