Mark Willard
Our Spaceship Earth
I am no longer active at this Flickr account. Please find my current and future account at www.flickr.com/photos/MarkWillardPhotography/.
Spaceship Earth
Epcot - Walt Disney World
Orlando, FL
"But will these seemingly infinite communications become a flood of electronic babble? Or will we use this power to usher in a new age of understanding and cooperation on this... our Spaceship Earth?"
Spaceship Earth, 1994 Jeremy Irons narration
This is a very classic shot that's been done many times before, but after watching last night's reboot of COSMOS, I'm in a very classic EPCOT Center mood. I had seen promos for COSMOS before and had gotten a very EPCOT Center-y vibe from it, but last night's premiere blew me away. It was the perfect mix of education, entertainment, awe, wonder, inspiration, and hopeful optimism that EPCOT Center used to instill, and it made me realize how much I miss it.
Many people would argue that the EPCOT Center that so many of us found so inspirational - from 1982 to roughly 1994 or maybe a little later - is gone forever and that any fondness for today's Epcot is misplaced and driven purely by nostalgia. I won't deny that Future World is a far cry from what it could be, should be, and was originally intended to be, but I refuse to give up hope that the spirit of the EPCOT Center I grew up with could someday return.
I sometimes wonder if today's Disney executives truly appreciate how meaningful EPCOT Center was in so many childhoods, and how successful that approach could be again today if given the chance. For me, this is very personal, as my love of information science and technology (which is also my career field) is something that I attribute directly to EPCOT Center's influence on me at a young age.
One can keep hoping that EPCOT Center will one day return to its mission and vision of entertaining while educating, of inspiring wonder, hope, awe, and optimism. In the meantime, I invite you to check out COSMOS if you haven't already. EPCOT Center vibe aside, it's an incredibly well-made show that's not only informative but very entertaining. It airs again tonight on National Geographic at 10pm ET!
Thanks for your views, favs, and comments! Constructive criticism is always more than welcome!
Lens used: Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
Email: Mark@MarkWillardPhotography.com
Full Portfolio and Prints | New/Current Flickr | Blog (Tumblr) | 500px | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
Our Spaceship Earth
I am no longer active at this Flickr account. Please find my current and future account at www.flickr.com/photos/MarkWillardPhotography/.
Spaceship Earth
Epcot - Walt Disney World
Orlando, FL
"But will these seemingly infinite communications become a flood of electronic babble? Or will we use this power to usher in a new age of understanding and cooperation on this... our Spaceship Earth?"
Spaceship Earth, 1994 Jeremy Irons narration
This is a very classic shot that's been done many times before, but after watching last night's reboot of COSMOS, I'm in a very classic EPCOT Center mood. I had seen promos for COSMOS before and had gotten a very EPCOT Center-y vibe from it, but last night's premiere blew me away. It was the perfect mix of education, entertainment, awe, wonder, inspiration, and hopeful optimism that EPCOT Center used to instill, and it made me realize how much I miss it.
Many people would argue that the EPCOT Center that so many of us found so inspirational - from 1982 to roughly 1994 or maybe a little later - is gone forever and that any fondness for today's Epcot is misplaced and driven purely by nostalgia. I won't deny that Future World is a far cry from what it could be, should be, and was originally intended to be, but I refuse to give up hope that the spirit of the EPCOT Center I grew up with could someday return.
I sometimes wonder if today's Disney executives truly appreciate how meaningful EPCOT Center was in so many childhoods, and how successful that approach could be again today if given the chance. For me, this is very personal, as my love of information science and technology (which is also my career field) is something that I attribute directly to EPCOT Center's influence on me at a young age.
One can keep hoping that EPCOT Center will one day return to its mission and vision of entertaining while educating, of inspiring wonder, hope, awe, and optimism. In the meantime, I invite you to check out COSMOS if you haven't already. EPCOT Center vibe aside, it's an incredibly well-made show that's not only informative but very entertaining. It airs again tonight on National Geographic at 10pm ET!
Thanks for your views, favs, and comments! Constructive criticism is always more than welcome!
Lens used: Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
Email: Mark@MarkWillardPhotography.com
Full Portfolio and Prints | New/Current Flickr | Blog (Tumblr) | 500px | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest