Nikola Tesla

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Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was an inventor and a mechanical and electrical engineer. Tesla is often described as an important scientist and inventor of the modern age, a man who "shed light over the face of Earth". He is best known for many revolutionary contributions in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tesla's patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern alternating current electric power (AC) systems, including the polyphase power distribution systems and the AC motor, with which he helped usher in the Second Industrial Revolution.
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'''Nikola Tesla''' was an inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer. He was an important contributor to the birth of commercial electricity, and is best known for his many revolutionary developments in the field of electromagnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tesla's patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern alternating current (AC) electric power systems, including the polyphase system of electrical distribution and the AC motor. This work helped usher in the Second Industrial Revolution. However, because of his eccentric personality and his seemingly unbelievable and sometimes bizarre claims about possible scientific and technological developments, Tesla was ultimately ostracized and regarded as a mad scientist by many late in his life. Tesla died with little money in 1943 at the age of 86, in a hotel suite in New York City.
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Nikola Tesla and his famous invention, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil Tesla coil], are something of motifs in the world of the White Stripes. The Stripes have made both obvious and obscure references to Tesla in their work:
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Today, he is widely known for his invention, the Tesla coil, a type of resonant transformer circuit invented by Tesla around 1891. Tesla and the Tesla coil have been referenced many times in the world of the White Stripes:
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* In the song "[[Astro]]", lyrics include the line "Maybe Tesla does the Astro." (after the repeated line, an additional line states "maybe Edison is AC/DC" referring to scientist Thomas Edison and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DC_(electricity) alternating current/direct current].
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* The song "[[Astro]]" mentions him and subtly references the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents War of Currents] between Tesla and [[Edison]].
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* The title of the vignette starring the Stripes in Jim Jarmusch's film ''Coffee and Cigarettes'' is "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil". It is worth noting, however, that the Tesla coil is a common thread throughout the rest of the film.  
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* In [[Jim Jarmusch]]'s film ''[[Coffee and Cigarettes]]'', the vignette starring Jack and Meg is titled "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil". In the scene, Jack shows Meg a Tesla coil while having some coffee and cigarettes -- fairly self-explanatory. The scene somehow manages to cram in basically every other White Stripes motif in existence; see the article on the film.
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* Although [[Ben Blackwell]] has stated that nobody has correctly guessed what Jack is holding on the cover of ''[[Get Behind Me Satan]]'', it is generally assummed and most likely correct that Jack is holding some sort of Tesla bulb. This has been possibly proved by visual evidence.
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* Although [[Ben Blackwell]] has stated in the past that no one has yet correctly identified the object Jack is holding on the cover of ''[[Get Behind Me Satan]]'', it has been suggested that the object is most likely a Tesla bulb of some sort. In the liner notes for the album, Jack writes, "Under my arm is a device with conductivity and I gave it to you." In addition, visual evidence exists to prove this -- compare [http://www.johndyer.com/BulbArcE.jpg this picture of a Tesla coil] with [http://i2.listal.com/image/237604/936full-get-behind-me-satan-cover.jpg the cover of the album].
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[[Category:Artists]]

Revision as of 16:20, 3 September 2011

Nikola Tesla was an inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer. He was an important contributor to the birth of commercial electricity, and is best known for his many revolutionary developments in the field of electromagnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tesla's patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern alternating current (AC) electric power systems, including the polyphase system of electrical distribution and the AC motor. This work helped usher in the Second Industrial Revolution. However, because of his eccentric personality and his seemingly unbelievable and sometimes bizarre claims about possible scientific and technological developments, Tesla was ultimately ostracized and regarded as a mad scientist by many late in his life. Tesla died with little money in 1943 at the age of 86, in a hotel suite in New York City.

Today, he is widely known for his invention, the Tesla coil, a type of resonant transformer circuit invented by Tesla around 1891. Tesla and the Tesla coil have been referenced many times in the world of the White Stripes:

  • The song "Astro" mentions him and subtly references the War of Currents between Tesla and Edison.
  • In Jim Jarmusch's film Coffee and Cigarettes, the vignette starring Jack and Meg is titled "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil". In the scene, Jack shows Meg a Tesla coil while having some coffee and cigarettes -- fairly self-explanatory. The scene somehow manages to cram in basically every other White Stripes motif in existence; see the article on the film.
  • Although Ben Blackwell has stated in the past that no one has yet correctly identified the object Jack is holding on the cover of Get Behind Me Satan, it has been suggested that the object is most likely a Tesla bulb of some sort. In the liner notes for the album, Jack writes, "Under my arm is a device with conductivity and I gave it to you." In addition, visual evidence exists to prove this -- compare this picture of a Tesla coil with the cover of the album.
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