Thursday, October 2, 2014
Marie Curie Continued...
Here is an article about Marie Curie's youngest daughter Eve, who was an author. She shares her perspective about her mother and it also gives information about Eve and her work, which went down a much different path than her mother. A short and great read if anyone is interested! I think it is an interesting connection to our readings two weeks ago, whether creativity or genius is genetically passed down. Marie's family was incredibly talented, but was that because they were born with her talent or because they were born into an environment of science and achievement?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/arts/25labouisse.html?_r=0
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Very interesting article! The despair she felt at her being the only one to escape the effects of radiation among the women in her family, is certainly relatable on some levels. Her training and interest in music seemed odd to me, given the MAJOR leanings of the family towards the scientific side. Could this point to a connection between the arts and the sciences on a genetic level?
ReplyDeleteI often wonder what it's like to follow in the footsteps of a famous and world-renowned figure. It seems to be that there are both advantages and disadvantages: obviously more is expected from you, and even the more definite "what" is expected from you is well, (which may explain her guilt at not having chosen a life devoted to science, as this article suggests). But at the same time, the name can open doors for you that few others can.
Final thought: she lived to be about twice as old as her mother and sister?! Crazy!
Enjoyed reading the article as well. Something that stuck out to me was the idea of proximity. Eve's memoir was criticized for "skimming" over less positive aspects of her mother's life. Additionally, Eve talks about always making sure she wasn't being confused with her more publicly famous family members.
ReplyDeleteGiven these ideas, it brings me back to the discussion we had on Meno about who is the proper person to teach virtue. Whenever someone is so intimately linked to a subject, they are in theory the best person to serve as a reference point, but they can also be influenced by being to close. In the larger context of revolution, I think examining exactly what the writer or speaker's relation to the revolution is an important idea, as it gives insight into the biases.
Aaron,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that Eve was put under the public eye and pressure to contribute significantly to the sciences as her family had done before her. I think that there is a connection between the arts and the sciences on a genetic level, and I think that Eve could have pursued science and been successful, but in pursuing music and the arts I think she was trying to make her own way, and prove her worth outside of science. Often times being told to pursue a path can be enough to throw you onto a completely different route.