Output details
35 - Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts
Leeds Beckett University
MSI: The Anatomy of Integers & Permutations
Principle Research Question:
Jennifer Granville (screenwriter and producer) and her brother, Dr. Andrew Granville (Canadian Research Chair in Number Theory at the Université de Montréal) wanted to discover whether mathematical and scientific ideas could be adapted for poetry, drama, short stories, novels, nonfiction, comic books, essays, and film allowing mathematicians to engage in a wider world of discourse.
Methodology
The writing of the screenplay Mathematical Sciences Investigation (MSI): “The anatomy of integers and permutations” was the initial piece of work in which the research was based. Based on analogies between the genetic similarities of twins, and the surprisingly similar mathematical structure of the prime factors of typical integers and of the cycles of typical permutations, the screenplay is an attempt to write narrative drama that also popularizes mathematical ideas whilst drawing attention to several key cultural issues in mathematics:
• How research is done, particularly the roles of student and adviser;
• The role of women in mathematics today;
• The influence and conflict of deep and rigid abstraction.
The screenplay uses metaphor to describe mathematical research, allowing exploration of details considered too technical for expository writing. Moreover it tries to illustrate the process of researching in mathematics, via the journeys of the characters that unfold throughout the screenplay. Robert Schneider collaborated by writing a mathematically based score, in prime-numbered time signatures, and the stage design was by Michael Spencer. The impact of this research is wide ranging – taking advanced math to a new audience via a graphic novel, music video and documentary.
Live readings/performances:
Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton 2009
The Simons Auditorium, MSRI Berkely 2011
CMS, Montreal 2012
Documentary screening:
Bridges Conference Short Movie Festival 2013 http://gallery.bridgesmathart.org/exhibitions/2013-bridges-conference-short-movie-festival/thomas-britt
Documentation:
The Mathematical Tourist (06/01/10); Radio Canada (en francais) (15/12/09); Emmanuel Kowalski (blogs.ethz.ch/Kowalski/); Montreal Gazette (16/12/09); Le Devoir (15/12/09)
