Algebra In Wonderland 184
theodp writes "As Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' shatters 3-D and IMAX records en route to a $116.3 million opening, the NY Times offers a rather cerebral op-ed arguing that Alice's search for a beautiful garden can be neatly interpreted as a mishmash of satire directed at the advances taking place in mid-19th century math. Charles Dodgson, who penned 'Alice' under the name Lewis Carroll, was a tutor in mathematics at Christ Church in Oxford who found the radical new math illogical and lacking in intellectual rigor. Op-ed writer Melanie Bayley explains: 'Chapter 6, "Pig and Pepper," parodies the principle of continuity, a bizarre concept from projective geometry, which was introduced in the mid-19th century from France. This principle (now an important aspect of modern topology) involves the idea that one shape can bend and stretch into another, provided it retains the same basic properties — a circle is the same as an ellipse or a parabola (the curve of the Cheshire cat's grin). Taking the notion to its extreme, what works for a circle should also work for a baby. So, when Alice takes the Duchess's baby outside, it turns into a pig. The Cheshire Cat says, "I thought it would."'"
you're kidding (Score:4, Funny)
sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...
A baby is not a sphere (Score:5, Funny)
Surely a mammal is a torus.
Uh huh (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A baby is not a sphere (Score:3, Funny)
It all hinges on the topological properties of a sphincter.
Re:a mammal is a torus (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Yeah Not Really (Score:5, Funny)
How can math be unrigorous? Either something adds up, or it doesnt, or both.
Re:you're kidding (Score:5, Funny)
And sometimes a caterpillar sitting on a giant mushroom smoking a hookah is just a caterpillar sitting on a giant mushroom smoking a hookah.
Re:a mammal is a torus (Score:5, Funny)
I am sure there is some German porn on the Internet that refutes that statement.
Re:Yeah Not Really (Score:2, Funny)
I always thought Alice was more about pedophilia then mathematics.
The scariest part about it is ... (Score:5, Funny)
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Annotated-Alice/Lewis-Carroll/e/9780393048476/?itm=1&USRI=annotated+alice [barnesandnoble.com]
..."Customers who bought this also bought"
Re:You mean P2P isn't killing cinema?? (Score:3, Funny)
Correction: Pocahontas and Avatar were both animated. Kevin Costner is anything but animated.
Re:Yeah Not Really (Score:3, Funny)
Also, if you accounted for your method of understanding the intentions of someone who is now deceased, and has been for a while, we might have been able to independently confirm your theory, or properly and with all authority label you a quack.
Yes, but don't you see? Ducks have everything to do with it!
Hit any key to continue.