By: Dr. Michael Robinson | Communication Studies Professor
Movies, TV shows, fiction about the multiverse focus on the concept of parallel universes existing simultaneously and separately from one another. But in science, it’s a question of what is in the observable universe, according to Loring Tu, a professor of mathematics. | Shutterstock
Popular culture has fully embraced the multiverse. As science fiction and superhero related genres have moved into the mainstream, they’ve brought with them an idea borrowed from physics.
I have been amazed to see the concept show up in Oscar winning films like Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) and in kid’s shows like The Amazing World of Gumball (2011-2019). And, of course, the concept has been and will continue to be a driving force in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
At its most basic, the popular concept of the multiverse suggests that every choice we make spawns off different universes where other possible choices were made. This is a wonderfully mad idea that spirals in wild ways when travel concepts about time or other dimensions are stirred in.
On the surface, a multiverse might seem vulnerable to an exercise of regrets or wishful thinking. In the past, I’ve wondered about other “Mikes” from the Dr. Mike you know here. I came to the conclusion that I did not want to meet my crosstime extradimensional doppelgangers. I would feel intense pity towards the ones who fared poorer in life than me and secretary envy for those with potentially better lives than mine.
In popular culture in general and in the MCU in particular, these trips often reaffirm the choices that the characters made. Most of the alternate worlds on the What If…? (2021-2024) series keep up the tradition of the namesake comic by showing that things are generally worse in alternate worlds. In Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness (2022), our hero screws up. But he meets or learns of other Doctor Stranges who did worse. So maybe his mistakes aren’t so bad.
This is all in contrast to Watchmen (1986-1987), the greatest comic book epic ever created. In the story, the all-powerful Doctor Manhattan is able to see the entirety of his existence from beginning to end. The graphic novel uses the metaphor of a clockwork to express the determinist perspective this engenders. Doctor Manhattan is free to be in every moment, but he is not free to make any deviation. The most powerful being is literally unable to break fate.
I love Watchmen and Doctor Manhattan is one of my favorite parts of it. But every time I read this story, I feel sadder for him. He is locked into his path.
For all of its chaotic and insane qualities, the MCU’s particular spin on the Multiverse offers limitless possibilities. Perhaps there are too many choices, but they exist nonetheless. For me, choice always beats no choice.
And it seems to me that this is a particularly good time to affirm that idea. For some of you graduation is days away. For others, a few more semesters or years. Your education here has, I believe, given you the power and opportunity to make more choices. I cannot wait to see the adventures you will have.
