Paper short abstract:

Moonwalking — as the astronaut lopes, skips, hops, and stumbles — an unchoreographed reality, infusing vitality into the "magnificent desolation". What if moonwalking could transcend mere whimsy to become a critical exploration of our place in the universe?

Paper long abstract:

A short video essay attempting to articulate the essence of using a moonwalking simulation device, known as the Walker, created by Andrew Friend and Sitraka Rakotoniaina, in 2022.

"Learning To Moonwalk" is part of an ongoing research endeavour aiming to explore imaginaries as tangible spaces of investigation and infrastructure that shape societal constructs on and off planet Earth. It uses designed simulations as performances that embody the imaginary. Seeking to examine the active role of imaginaries in shaping our engagement with the unfamiliar, it also scrutinises the material instantiation of space exploration, their narrative embodiment and associated extraterrestrial "encounters".

In this video, the Walker embodies a transformative narrative, crafting abstract musings and "silly walks" into visceral moments where the imaginary infuses reality. Cosmic ideas are molded, felt, probed, and understood emotionally, intellectually, and perceptually.

Essentially, the Walker is portrayed as a narrative instantiation, an experiential manifestation of moonwalking, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary. Thus, it underscores the relevance and potential of conceptualising and approaching the unknown from the ground up, evolving narratives from a hyperlocal perspective, in contrast to solely adhering to traditional top-down approaches when imaginig cosmological visions and other worlds.