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.
It looks like something straight out of “Square One,” the math program that aired on PBS years ago when I was growing up.
I am a bit disturbed by the treatment of women. Someone needs a smack down (i.e the author).
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.
I’ve always wondered what words a higher dimensional creature would use to describe a higher dimension if such a creature existed.
Blake Stacey is right, the treatment of women was a satire. As was the imprisonment of the “heretic” protagonist.
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?
The trailer for Flatland the Movie seems to have a female hexagon…
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