Time Warp, Time Freeze, Or Time Lapse? Part V

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w0WPkB3XJ4

If you’ve ever participated in the Rocky Horror Picture Show experience, you’ve probably sang and danced the “Time Warp.” Beyond Rocky Horror Picture Show, time warping involves bending or altering the flow of time (https://www.newsweek.com/time-warp-where-find-one-1423508).  Here is the 5th blog post in a series on time; so far, I’ve discussed the scientific nature of time, wrote about Chronos and Kairos time, considered managing and organizing time, and shared about astrological time.  This week, it’s about time warps, time freezes, and time lapses.  Next two weeks, I’m taking off and will finish the series on time to publish it by 9/14/25.

What are some examples of ‘time warp’? Black holes - time slows down significantly near the horizon of a black hole compared to distant observers.  GPS Satellites - time dilation affects satellite clocks, requiring adjustments for accurate positioning on Earth. Relativistic Rocket - a spaceship traveling close to the speed of light experiences time differently from observers on Earth. Cosmic Rays - high-energy particles from space decay slower when traveling at relativistic speeds, illustrating time dilation (https://www.newsweek.com/time-warp-where-find-one-1423508).  To learn more about ‘time dilation,’ check out this YouTube by Neil deGrasse Tyson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BCkSYQ0NRQ.  While I don’t see the ‘time warp’ in my life because I’m not an astrophysicist and not an astronaut, I do see it a lot in fiction I read. Films that features time warp include Back to the Future, Dr. Strange, and other Marvel movies.

What is a ‘time freeze’ and how does it differ from a ‘time warp’? Time freeze implies a complete stoppage of time; in a time warp, objects can still move relative to the warped time - slower or faster.  In a time freeze, all movement stops, so a time freeze creates a perception of stillness, whereas a time warp creates a perception of moving faster or slower.  A time warp may involve bending the fabric of space-time while a time freeze usually involves a magical or supernatural element. Films that depict a time freeze are The Matrix and Frozen.

Okay, then what is a ‘time lapse’? According to the dictionary, time lapse is “denoting the photographic technique of taking a sequence of frames at set intervals to record changes that take place slowly over time. When the frames are shown at normal speed, or in quick succession, the action seems much faster” (https://www.oed.com).  Often time lapse and time warp are optics in photography and in moving film. To read more about this, see https://opticsmag.com/gopro-timewarp-vs-timelapse/.  The visual effects of time lapse in photography and film can provide a visual summary of prolonged processes, like plant growth or how cityscapes develop, and time warp can evoke emotional or philosophical questions about time.

Do you notice time warps, time freezes, or time lapses?  Please share your stories, thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at reimaginelife22@gmail.com.

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