In class we have talked a lot about how the essays that we write need a “narrative anchor”. I would argue that this is even more important when adapting our essays to film. Watching  The Voyagers this week I was struck by the use of space as a concreate anchor for love. The thought to anchor love in something like space would never cross my mind, but the idea is truly brilliant when you think about it. Space is something that many of us don’t fully understand and I would propose love is something that is also hard for many of us to fully grasp. We know that we feel it but can we really explain why? Can we explain why we fall for someone and not for another?

After reading the essay On Space, Love and Carl Sagan’s Cosmic Mix Tape I realized the work that went on to make this film possible. Gathering films from VHS tapes and finding numerous photographs seems like a grueling task; one that I am not sure I would ever venture to take on. Though, I realize that is exactly what we are being asked to do in class on a much smaller scale. How then do I find the images that will anchor my piece in the particular while making sure that the images or film clips that I gather capture the emotions of the piece? I worry that I am not creative enough. What if I can’t find just the right image or what it I am being too obvious. As I have said the thought to talk love in the context of space would never have come to my mind. How then does one find the right images and footage to capture something that they do not even fully understand themselves?

The use of old footage in this piece was really well done. I can’t even begin to imagine the hours it must have taken to string all of that footage together. I have to admit though I had trouble watching the footage of the Challenger crumbling to pieces. But, this footage made me think, isn’t that what we all worry about when we enter in to marriage or to any unknown? Are we not all afraid that we are one step away from falling to pieces? What if something that we have planned for so long blows up right in front of us? I realize that I may be getting a little to philosophical but I believe the essays lends itself to this.

I am glad that this essay was on out syllabus this week because it has helped me to work through some of the unknowns in my essay. I realize now that I can really connect anything I want to my essay and have it work, it just has to been done the right was. Like Penny Lane, I am deeply invested in my topic in that it means something to my everyday life. Here on film I can hopefully come to a place where I can better understand why I act the way that I do and why I have such faulty relationships.