Quantum Configurations in Nick Payne’s Constellations
In recent years, science has become a popular topic in British drama. Biology and physics are a source of new themes and metaphors, but also stimulate formal experimentation: this paper analyses Nick Payne’s Constellations (2012) as an attempt to derive new dramatic form from the hypotheses of quant...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Presses Universitaires de la Méditerranée
2013-10-01
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| Series: | Études Britanniques Contemporaines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journals.openedition.org/ebc/901 |
| _version_ | 1818507527428505600 |
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| author | Liliane Campos |
| author_facet | Liliane Campos |
| author_sort | Liliane Campos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, science has become a popular topic in British drama. Biology and physics are a source of new themes and metaphors, but also stimulate formal experimentation: this paper analyses Nick Payne’s Constellations (2012) as an attempt to derive new dramatic form from the hypotheses of quantum physics. Constellations draws on the Many Worlds Interpretation, in which an infinite amount of divergent universes are superposed but do not communicate: rather than a linear plot, the plays presents us with a series of variations on encounters between two lovers, corresponding to coexisting possibilities in the divergent universes. With an emphasis on paradigmatic superposition, the resulting dramatic syntax allows Payne to examine the themes of mortality and euthanasia from a fresh perspective, as the play enacts alternative conceptions of time and questions their consequences for the viewer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:19:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c15373f293404a88b42a37f0b2d8453b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1168-4917 2271-5444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:19:41Z |
| publishDate | 2013-10-01 |
| publisher | Presses Universitaires de la Méditerranée |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Études Britanniques Contemporaines |
| spelling | doaj.art-c15373f293404a88b42a37f0b2d8453b2022-12-22T01:31:22ZengPresses Universitaires de la MéditerranéeÉtudes Britanniques Contemporaines1168-49172271-54442013-10-014510.4000/ebc.901Quantum Configurations in Nick Payne’s ConstellationsLiliane CamposIn recent years, science has become a popular topic in British drama. Biology and physics are a source of new themes and metaphors, but also stimulate formal experimentation: this paper analyses Nick Payne’s Constellations (2012) as an attempt to derive new dramatic form from the hypotheses of quantum physics. Constellations draws on the Many Worlds Interpretation, in which an infinite amount of divergent universes are superposed but do not communicate: rather than a linear plot, the plays presents us with a series of variations on encounters between two lovers, corresponding to coexisting possibilities in the divergent universes. With an emphasis on paradigmatic superposition, the resulting dramatic syntax allows Payne to examine the themes of mortality and euthanasia from a fresh perspective, as the play enacts alternative conceptions of time and questions their consequences for the viewer.http://journals.openedition.org/ebc/901Benjaminconstellationsdeathdramatic formmultiverse theorynon-linearity |
| spellingShingle | Liliane Campos Quantum Configurations in Nick Payne’s Constellations Études Britanniques Contemporaines Benjamin constellations death dramatic form multiverse theory non-linearity |
| title | Quantum Configurations in Nick Payne’s Constellations |
| title_full | Quantum Configurations in Nick Payne’s Constellations |
| title_fullStr | Quantum Configurations in Nick Payne’s Constellations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantum Configurations in Nick Payne’s Constellations |
| title_short | Quantum Configurations in Nick Payne’s Constellations |
| title_sort | quantum configurations in nick payne s constellations |
| topic | Benjamin constellations death dramatic form multiverse theory non-linearity |
| url | http://journals.openedition.org/ebc/901 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lilianecampos quantumconfigurationsinnickpaynesconstellations |