Does the White Witch walk in our shoes?
That's one of the many questions visitors might have this week after attending a new exhibit on the Chronicles of Narnia at the Edmonton Telus World of Science. The travelling show features real props from the film series and shows how science still applies in a world of fantasy.
The exhibit opened last Saturday to the sound of clashing steel as members of the Knights of the Northern Realm staged mock sword-fights for visitors. Guests then had a chance to touch a frozen waterfall and marvel at the inspiration for C.S. Lewis's interdimensional wardrobe.
Many of today's scientists got their inspiration from fantasy books like the Narnia series, notes Frank Florian, science director at the Telus World of Science. "The books give people a different way of thinking and open them up to possibilities."
Scientific magic
Lewis's .Narnia series chronicles the adventures of a group of English children who end up in a fantasy world after stepping into a magic wardrobe. Three of the books have been turned into feature films.
It's a perennial favourite at the St. Albert Public Library, says librarian Ashley King, one that explodes in popularity whenever a new movie comes out. "We always have at least half of our copies out."
Filled with minotaurs, fawns and talking mice, the books aren't exactly focused on scientific accuracy, says exhibit prop-master Jasmine Ellsworth, but they do feature changing landscapes, erosion, archaeology and engineering. "That stuff all exists in Narnia."
This exhibit is meant to use the books to get kids interested in science. Take the scene from the second book (or film) where the kids return to their castle's treasure room after many centuries, she says as an example. "What the kids are actually doing is a form of archaeology," she says — sifting through artifacts to decipher past civilizations.
The wicked White Witch uses magic to lock Narnia in eternal winter, Florian says, analogous to what nations could accidentally do through nuclear war. "We're actually doing the reverse," he notes, as we're warming the world through greenhouse gas emissions. "The White Witch could be all of us."
The exhibit features many items film fans might recognize, Ellsworth says, such as the White Witch's wand and the scarf of Mr. Tumnus, the friendly fawn. A life-sized model of Reepicheep, the swashbuckling mouse, leads visitors into a discussion of animal communication.
Kids can learn about metalwork and feel the weight of real chain mail, she continues, and touch a frozen waterfall. "When we debuted in Arizona, it was a huge hit," she says.
Also featured are items from the Lewis estate, including what's thought to be the wardrobe that inspired The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Next to it are copies of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. The two writers knew each other, Ellsworth notes, and drew on many of the same myths in their stories.
The Narnia novels teach kids about the values of teamwork and trust, King says, as well as ecological protection. "It shows children being brave, making decisions and taking control of their own lives," she says, which gives readers a sense of empowerment.
She described herself as a big fan of the series and says she can't wait to see the most recent movie. "They're just so magical."
The exhibit runs until May 1. Call 780-451-3344 for details.
