Cosmological Cinema: Pedagogy, Propaganda, and Perturbation in Early Dome Theaters

Cultures from around the world have long turned to the dome of the heavens to better understand the cosmos. This perceived curvature has manifested architecturally throughout the world, and domes have been used to enclose the most sacred environments of many cultures. In the 20th century, it became possible for the first time to radially extend mental images onto the dome screen using projections of light. The ability to completely immerse the visual field of audiences in a mediated environment, made possible by advancements in engineering, mechanics, and electronics, was seized upon by numerous pioneers across a wide range of contexts. Like their historic predecessors, these modern multi-sensory sanctuaries continued to reflect the cosmologies and motivations of their creators, subtly affecting the evolutionary trajectory of the cultures from which they emerged. This paper is an attempt to shed light on the largely forgotten history, context, and motivations behind these early dome theaters.