From Angela Gunn comes news of Flatland: the Movie. And also, unconnectedly, Flatland: the Film. So, two different animated versions of Edwin A. Abbott’s classic “Romance of Many Dimensions” available for your DVD player. The Movie has the bonus that Martin Sheen is voicing the protagonist, but the Film has the advantage that it’s already available.
Of course, as Angela points out, you could just read the original. It’s a favorite among physicists, especially those who work on extra dimensions. What they never seem to remember is how the book ends — protagonist A. Square, who has claimed to have proof that extra dimensions exist, is imprisoned for life on charges of heresy. Hmmm.
January 25th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
It looks like something straight out of “Square One,” the math program that aired on PBS years ago when I was growing up.
January 25th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I am a bit disturbed by the treatment of women. Someone needs a smack down (i.e the author).
January 25th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
I believe Edwin Abbott’s original aim in making women lines (instead of full-bodied polygons) was to satirize the Victorian sexism of his day.
January 25th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I’ve always wondered what words a higher dimensional creature would use to describe a higher dimension if such a creature existed.
January 25th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Blake Stacey is right, the treatment of women was a satire. As was the imprisonment of the “heretic” protagonist.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
In the book there’s a legend about an “irregular circle” who tried to bring colour to flatland, but then his revolution was stamped out by the forces of colourlessness. Since he was obviously satirizing 18th century England in the book, I always figured Abbott was referring to Lord Byron (circle=aristocrat, irregular because Byron was so eccentric [not to mention deformed], colour=romanticism). Who’s with me?
January 26th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
The trailer for Flatland the Movie seems to have a female hexagon…
February 13th, 2007 at 1:52 am
Directing Reel
While browsing for content to write about, I discovered an intresting post on ” I Always Thought Martin Sheen Was a Bit Two-Dimensional | Cosmic Variance” which I found relevent to blog readers here at Directing Reel and I recommend that everyone …