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Institute for Entertainment, Media, and Culture Hosts West Coast Premiere of Einstein's Light


The Institute for Entertainment, Media, and Culture at Pepperdine University will host the west coast premiere of the new documentary Einstein’s Light on Tuesday, November 10, at 6 PM in Elkins Auditorium on the Malibu campus. Award-winning filmmaker Nickolas Barris will travel from Holland to present the film and will be joined in a post-screening discussion by Pepperdine physics professor Gerard Fasel.

“We’re thrilled to bring Einstein’s Light to Pepperdine, straight from its east coast premiere at Princeton University, notes Craig Detweiler, creative director of the Institute for Entertainment, Media, and Culture, noted. “What a great opportunity for the community and our many sharp students in science, music, film and media.”

Einstein’s Light illuminates the prolific physicist’s quest to realize his theory of general relativity from his “miracle year” of 1905, when he first published the concepts that shaped the foundation of modern physics, to 1916, when the final form of general relativity was published amidst the horrors of the First World War. The film examines Einstein's discoveries, as well as modern examples of scientific imagination and innovation, including those of Dutch Nobel Laureate, Hendrik Lorentz.  

The symbiotic relationship between music and science is a major theme of the film, as Einstein is the greatest example of its efficacy. Barris commissioned composer Bruce Adolphe to write a score to reflect the power of music as a catalyst for Einstein's scientific creativity. Since Einstein was a devoted violinist, Adolphe created a score based on Einstein's deep connection to the music of Mozart and Bach. 

Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell performs on the soundtrack, which was unveiled at the United Nations/UNESCO International Year of Light Opening Ceremony in Paris on January 19, 2015. 

The screening is free and open to the public. The official trailer for Einstein’s Light can be watched here.