Nick Sagan on 'Cosmos,' Carl, and his "strange childhood"

[bananas]

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/03/16/cosmos-nick-sagan-strange-childhood/

Nick Sagan on ‘Cosmos,’ Carl, and his “strange childhood”
Chris Stedman | Mar 16, 2014 | 6 Comments

<snip>

I spoke with Nick Sagan about his father’s impact, memories from his “strange” and “surreal” childhood, the new “Cosmos,” and what it was like to record a greeting for potential extraterrestrials at six years old. Our conversation appears below.



<snip>

CS: Do you have any stories about your father that you consider especially representative of who he was?

NS: Yeah, plenty—but I want to tell you this one. I’m a kid and I desperately want to see Pink Floyd — The Wall. Dad thinks an R-rated movie is inappropriate for an 11-year-old. He has a valid point but whatever—I consider myself very mature for my age. We argue and then it’s my bedtime, and I fall asleep thinking he’s being so unfair.

Hours later, he wakes me up. There’s a special on the making of The Wall playing on TV. He knew I’d want to see it, so he’s waking me up, despite how I acted earlier. Bleary-eyed and moved by his kindness, I watch it. It’s great. By the end, I’m fascinated by movie making. Years later I’m in film school, realizing the role that special played in starting me on my path.

<snip>

NS: If you like the “Cosmos” reboot and happen to own a smartphone, I would encourage you to download the free “Cosmos” Android app. It’s a visually stunning companion piece to the show, with videos, articles, production diaries and even a Cosmic Calendar. I’ve been providing content for it, which is a pleasure and an honor.

I’m also working on something else but shouldn’t say too much about it, except that it’s sci-fi/horror and therefore very different in tone from the uplifting wonder of Cosmos.

[Jefferson23]

1. He knows what a lucky kid he was...great piece. K&R

Dad was a difference maker. He reached out to people. He took them by the awe and wonder we feel over the most important questions we can think to imagine. He pulled them away from blind faith, away from pseudoscience, toward a deeper, richer understanding of the universe.

[calimary]

3. I like how you put that, Jefferson23!

[Jefferson23]

7. Thank you, calimary. What a lucky kid, huh?

[calimary]

11. Yeah! No shit!

Imagine growing up in that house - the stimulating conversation there must have been. All those brains in there! A very lucky kid.

[freshwest]

5. He was a strong influence that I enjoyed watching. He opened the door to a world so promising to me.

Too much of America has since fallen into his feared 'Demon-Haunted World' I have posted on here, and so many others considered his warnings, too. I hope to see us come back from the abyss of ignorance and superstition.

[Jefferson23]

8. I agree, and we need to reclaim that position for future generations.

Moving back from the abyss of ignorance and superstition is not an exaggeration.
Freaks me out how many young children have been presented complete falsehoods.

[fishwax]

2. cool read -- thanks for posting

[freshwest]

4. Thanks for posting this. And that's a beautiful picture of father and son. So much joy. n/t

[SleeplessinSoCal]

6. Just installed my Cosmos app! :) n/t

[fasttense]

9. I love Carl Sagan and this interview is fascinating but....

One of the reasons my father, a NASA scientist in the 60s and 70s, didn't encourage us kids to watch Sagan is that he and us kids already knew most of what Carl Sagan had to say. My father encouraged us to keep up with science and passed adult science fiction and nonfiction books onto us at the age of 8.

The same is true of the new Cosmos. I find I know already what is being explained. The visuals are great, especially at the micro level, but Tyson is explaining something I already know and understand. I keep up with science and new theories so Tysons's explanations are kind of boring for me. But I do like the visuals.

[Jefferson23]

10. Wow, your Dad was a Nasa scientist...so cool. n/t