An examination of fractal geometry, a field of mathematics based on the intricate patterns found in ndatujre, art, science and even the human heartbeat. Included: mathematicians seeking to uncover the rules that govern fractals.

Fascinating! seriously.

no

my PBS doesnt come in so well

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I love the concept of fractals!* I wish I would have seen that show...maybe they will re-air it.

I just think it is so crazy that Mandelbrot didn't "discovered" fractals until the 80s (right)? Because when you think of math, don't you imagine it to be centuries old and sort of stasis? I mean 2+2 has been 4 since the beginning but then fractals come along. Crazy!

One of my favorite artists, Mark Tansey, did a couple paintings in the mid 80s about the discovery and use of fractals. One showed people measuring a coastline, which was very clever because without the use of fractals, which had just been discovered, it would have been nearly impossible to do that. (Sorry if that's not really making sense, I am at work right now and going on memory about the painting and fractals.)

Mark Taylor discusses Tansey's interest in fractals in his book, The Picture in Question: Mark Tansey and the Ends of Representation. I should re-read that...


*I briefly considered being a math major in college, but couldn't really get down with imaginary numbers, so I decided to study art history instead.

DevotedPuppy said:

It was great. They did show how they measured the coastline of the British Isles using fractals.
I called two of my friends long distance and they were both watching it! That was so cool.
I received the book . CHAOS, years ago and it was one of the best books I'd ever read. My ex bought it for me. It discussed Mandelbrot and the whole theory of chaos, now known as fractal geometry.

Hopefully they will re-air it. Even if you aren't into math or think you suck at it, you will love this.