A fairly abstract lecture exploring the role of fractals and roughness in nature, math, science, engineering, markets and culture, much more than an exploration of the Mandelbrot set and basic theory. A reasonable amount of mathy parts, be warned.
posted by MetaMonkey at 12:37 AM on December 3, 2006

Obligatory link to Jonathan Coulton's Mandelbrot Set. (There are swears; headphones advised if at work.)

Lyrics are also available.
posted by JDHarper at 5:15 AM on December 3, 2006

So are sandy visuals, courtesy of Dubuffet.
posted by Julie at 10:06 AM on December 3, 2006

For me, this is an absolute must-watch. I was able to see him speak a few weeks ago and it was a really engaging talk. His recent stuff isn't so much math just more cultural commentary.
posted by thebigdeadwaltz at 11:51 AM on December 3, 2006

Absolutely remarkable. Mandelbrot is a very good speaker, engaging a very wide audience.

However, the theory of roughness is not new in mathematical physics. Kolmogorov already in the 40s and Monin later on defined fluid mechanics and 2-D and geophysical turbulence using self-similarity theory. Unfortunately, cold war politics muffled their contributions until the 70s when probably independently self-similarity was re-discovered in the western world.

Nevertheless, Mandelbrot's talk is very interesting.
posted by carmina at 9:28 PM on December 3, 2006