Divergent Thinking Assignment 1

Dilip Kunderu
Aug 28, 2017 · 3 min read

Culture shock :

People here were very enthusiastic about witnessing the eclipse and were out in droves through the event. But back in India, a solar eclipse is considered inauspicious. We used to stay indoors and take a shower as soon as the event is done. Orthodox Hindus even have some chants to ward off the bad aura resulting from the eclipse. But the people here were all out in the open, happy to bear witness.

Amateur Image :

Image taken by me from the Reitz Union entrance through a freely distributed gazing lens

Social Media Images :

Eclipse at ~87%
Waning phase and waxing phase of the eclipse

Semi Involuntary body mechanism :

For many of us, especially the ones without any observation equipment, looking up the sky was, in a way, a forbidden fruit. We couldn’t help but keep giving quick glances at the sky, wondering how it would affect us, should we keep staring long enough. Even after enough warnings about not seeing the eclipse with the naked eye, the temptation was pertinent.

NASA coverage :

NASA provided well over 6 hours of comprehensive coverage of the eclipse. Shown beside is an excerpt of the coverage.

Satellite View :

5 second clip of the eclipse

A Simple sketch :

A few words :

Astounding, anarchaic, breathtaking, terrifying, rare, astronomical, beholden, radiant, dangerous, fantastic, cosmic dance, rahu, Ketu

A simple poem :

Bemoan the long shadow maketh the fauna run hither and tither, the shadow that maketh the birds start early on their dusk chatter, the shadow that taketh the vision of many an unsuspecting life away, and yet, whose eyes cannot but look away…

Body movement observation :

For some reason, people were trying to shield their eyes by covering their forehead with their palms. I do not know how helpful would that action be. In my opinion, it really would not help much. But many were doing it anyway. Furthermore, even at 80%, the luminosity in the surrounding area was higher than what I imagined in my mind. It was more like the ambiance of a region adjoining an industrial facility.

Situation in the Grad study floor :

The grad study floor is usually significantly more crowded during the usual times. But on the day of the eclipse, the crowd lessened. Also, there are fewer Indians than the usual(maybe because of the traditional hindu belief that solar eclipse spreads negativity)

Situation in buses :

Not much of any discussion was going on in the buses during that day. The conversations were normal and I did not encounter anyone talking about the eclipse, other than myself. Further, none of the people I met on that day told me that this was their first experience of the solar eclipse.

Mail from UF Grad School :

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Dilip Kunderu

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Living the truth of a thousand lies

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