2. Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity (1916)
Beyond its reconception of
mathematical principles governing time and
space, Einstein's formulation encouraged and allowed thinkers and artists
in all venues to reimagine their relation to the physical universe.
Reconfigurations of time and space along the metaphorical lines set
out by relativity theory became one of the dominating programs of modern
literature and modern art, whether or not individual writers and artists
actually understood the hard physics and hard math of Einstein's work.
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Michael Seidel
is a Professor in the
Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. His Top
10 list reflects a broad historical approach. He also discusses the impact of
the great events on writers, artists, and humanity in general.
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