Celestial Inspirations: Astrology and Space in Popular Media

  Astrology has been popular in non-western countries like India and China, revealing how individuals thought of their place in the world. This popularity has also taken shape in the West, where people are seeking guidance from stars through social media accounts. Through daily horoscope ads, memes, articles, movies, literature, etc, astrology continues to permeate every area of pop culture.

 

Greek Mythology and Adaptations

 

Greek mythology has long served as a wellspring of inspiration for storytellers across different mediums. From ancient texts to modern adaptations, the tales of gods and goddesses have captivated audiences worldwide. Black Orpheus, for example, retells the popular Orpheus and Eurydice myth where Orfeu and Eurydice moved about different communities in Rio, in defense of their love. In the Clash of the Titans, Perseus, Zeus' favorite son, appears to have a challenging relationship with the sea goddess Thetis because of his love for Andromeda. 

 

Literature works such as House of Names by Colm Toibin depict captivating mythologies like those found in Aeschylus's Oresteia. Anne Carson, in her 1998 Autobiography of Red novel, reinvents a Greek myth based on the monster Geryon in a modern-day scene. Geryon, who is a winged red monster, faces several challenges in his lifetime and later finds comfort behind the lens of his camera and in Herakles' arms, who leaves him highly infatuated. Another adaptation, The Silence of the Girls, authored by Pat Barker, draws inspiration from Homer's Iliad and explores how Achilles captures a Trojan queen, Briseis. 

 

Space-themed Horror and Thrillers

 

The vastness of space and the unknown mysteries it holds have provided fertile ground for horror and thriller narratives. For example, a film like Aliens depicts Ellen Ripley, who drifts into space for some time and is later rescued. Business magnates later persuade her to return to the moon, where Nostromo captures the monster as contact with humans in the place has been lost. 

 

In Paul Anderson's Event Horizon, a crew leaves for a rescue mission to the galaxy after a spaceship, Event Horizon, which had disappeared sends a distress signal. The spacecraft had disappeared seven years earlier and reappeared around Neptune's orbit after coming back with a sinister force. Danny Boyle directs another sci-fi thriller, Sunshine, that happens in 2057 and follows a group of ambitious astronauts who are after a nearly impossible mission of reigniting a dying sun. 

 

Astrology in Pop Culture and Apps

 

Interest in astrology has continued to spike as Google Trends reported that 'birth chart' and 'astrology' searches hit five-year peaks in 2020. Platforms like TikTok greatly influenced this trend by introducing a generation of newcomers to Zodiac. Venture capital-backed apps like Sanctuary, The Pattern, and Co-star have gained popularity, offering users insights into their astrological profiles and daily forecasts.

 

Moreover, the integration of astrology into entertainment sectors like iGaming reflects its enduring popularity and influence. In the casino industry, for instance, online casino games like Cosmic Coins and Loki's Riches incorporate astrological themes into their gameplay and aesthetics to engage players. Loki's Riches highlights a Norse mythology theme where players encounter a trickster God, Loki, while Cosmic Coins engages players in a space adventure as they search for cosmic coins. 

 

Final Words

 

Astrology and space's timeless allure continues to inspire a variety of popular media. From adaptations of ancient mythology to modern explorations of cosmic horror, the celestial realm remains an endless source of creativity.