Einstein and an Island Boy

The Value of Exploring Big Ideas

When I was a senior in high school on the island of American Samoa, I had to choose a research topic for my physics class. It would take up a sizable percentage of my final grade and was a big deal. Each student had to choose wisely because our physics teacher would only approve our choices if they were appropriate and challenging enough. Before the semester ended, we had to present our findings in front of the class and submit the final paper.

I remember it vividly. When I told my physics teacher that I wanted to write a paper about Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, I said that his work had been mentioned in every science class I had previously taken, and I simply wanted to know what all the fuss was about. She looked up from a stack of files on her desk with a smile and said, “Sure, why not?”

She signed off on it without even a warning of how complex and nuanced the topic was. I guess she thought I could handle it.

Within a week, I had borrowed a couple of books from our library and started reading. Quickly enough, what felt like the weight of the world started to bear down on me. I could tell right away that this topic would be difficult to wrap my head around, and describing it all in my own words (and in a digestible, competent way) seemed impossible.

I grew up on sandy beaches on a tropical island far removed from places where profound scientific ideas were rigorously tossed about. What the heck was I thinking?

I spent many hours over several months that year peeling away layers and layers of Einstein’s brilliant and everlasting contribution to science and all humankind. I would sit at my desk and then stare at a wall while digging away at his ideas. On other days, I would lie on a blanket in my front yard and stare up at the canopy of a tree while painstakingly piecing together everything I had read. The written paper would go through numerous stops and starts until I figured out how it needed to flow.

Before any of this, I was a good student who always got good grades, but this was the first time that I felt like I was out of my depth—like I was grasping at something so much bigger and intricate than I ever had before.

Eventually, after my intimidation settled, I finally started to understand all of it in my own way. I broke each component down into its basic elements and extrapolated from there. I wrote the paper to the best of my ability with the understanding that this could all be an epic fail.

Regardless of the grade I got (more on that later), this research project was a pivotal moment in my life. Three big takeaways stuck with me ever since.

1.    Do not be intimidated by big ideas and complex problems.

Tackling Einstein gave me the confidence to face complexity head-on. The process of breaking something down into its core parts has become a guiding practice in so much of what I do. As a filmmaker, I have to problem-solve at virtually every turn. Many moving parts can go wrong with big, multi-level projects like a film production or multimedia show, but I have learned to first understand all of its core elements and what they need. Then, I can adapt to or anticipate any challenges moving forward.

2.    Make time for contemplation.

All those hours lying under a tree and thinking about relativity and how it related to space, light, time, and physical objects served me well. It was a practice that allowed me to go slow and be methodical in my thought process. Now, whether I am working on an idea for a song, an art piece, or a film project, there is a long gestation period in my head before anything gets written down and formally planned out.

My imagination is my biggest canvas, allowing me to make big, broad strokes with no limits. I access my imagination through private moments of contemplation. It may look like I am doing nothing as I stare at a wall or walk through the woods, but I am actively reaching for something I need to understand.

3.    Everything is relative.

Einstein’s Theory of Relativity has as much to do with perception as it does with actual universal scientific laws. Our understanding of anything is connected to our levels of perception. Seeing Einstein’s ideas in my head helped me to see the interconnectedness of all things and how our perceptions can intertwine even the most disparate concepts. Nowadays, there is a reason why I can go from an idea to a story to a melody and lyrics and, finally, to a music video that brings it all together. The tempo of the song, the words I sing, the inflections in my voice, the expression on the piano, and the colors filmed on camera are all core elements of something more substantial that I am clawing after.

Einstein taught me how to build something bigger out of smaller parts at different levels. The paper I wrote in high school forced me to reverse-engineer Einstein's work so that I could understand it. By doing this, I figured out how to create art that incorporated different skills, approaches, and perceptions in cohesive and parallel ways. It was the best thing I could have ever done.

As a musician and filmmaker, I owe a debt of gratitude to my high school physics teacher, Dr. Betty Risley. She did not stand in the way of the door I wanted to open, even if I might have been doomed from the start. Little did I know that I would learn more than I could comprehend at the time.

After she handed back my research paper at the end of the semester, I discovered that I got an A+ for both the presentation and written research. She wrote the following comment:

“Clearly, you have thought this through. Well done.”

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You can hear my new song, Vampire, on every major streaming platform including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal.

Give it a listen, share it, and add it to a playlist if you want. Search for Roqué Marcelo or visit any of the following links:

Spotify
Apple Music
Tidal
Amazon Music
Deezer

Other music sites where you can hear it include Anghami, MediaNet, Boomplay, Instagram/Facebook, Adaptr, Flo, iHeartRadio, Claro Música, iTunes, Joox, KKBox, Kuack Media, NetEase, Qobuz, Pandora, Saavn, Tencent, TikTok/TikTok Music/Resso/Luna, and Yandex Music (beta).

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Let’s move from Einstein to Madonna. I also fully embraced her during my senior year in high school. I sat on the floor of a hotel room in Honolulu while I watched MTV (I was there to present a paper on a different science project). Her music video for Vogue came on (we did not have MTV on the island), and I was never the same. For better or worse, she has defined what it means to be a global pop superstar, and the Taylor Swifts and Beyoncés of the world have her to thank. My dear husband and I went to see the stop of her Celebration World Tour in Tampa, FL, last week. (Upon entering the venue, we took photos with the bible-thumper who was loudly protesting against the show. See the photo below.)

The show was performance art with high production values. It had intricate choreography with multiple dancers, a dazzling lighting design, a stage with countless moving parts, costume changes galore, and one ridiculously accomplished female pop star. One of my favorite things in the world is to see an artist’s full and intricate creative vision come to life. To top it all off, so many people in attendance were dressed up in their favorite Madonna looks. They were everywhere. It was so cool. Four of Madonna’s kids also performed with her on stage, and they all showed off impressive performance skills. (Mercy played on a grand piano. David played guitar, and the twins danced.)

On display was a two-hour glimpse of 40 years of triumphant creativity and artistry. I understand how much thought and effort goes into these productions, and Madonna never disappoints. Long may she reign.

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To listen to my music, watch my films, or see my visual art, please visit:

www.roquemarcelo.com

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