Event 5: Hammer Museum (Extra Credit)

When I visited the Hammer Museum, one of the exhibits displayed the works of Forrest Bess.  Forrest Bess was a painter from Bay City, Texas.  From a very young age, he began having extremely vivid visions and dreams; however, it was not until the age of thirty-five that Bess began to depict his dreams through his canvas.  He would always keep a pencil and paper by his bed, so he could wake up in the middle of the night and jot down what he had seen: he wanted to make his paintings as accurate as possible.

Bess's work tied in Carl Jung's theory of the collective unconscious as we discussed in lecture.  In order to make sense of his dreams, Bess employed Jung's archetypes to decipher a hidden universal meaning. To aid his search, Bess also studied a multitude of different fields such as medicine, psychology, anthropology and philosophy looking for clues in all of their respective literatures.  Eventually, Bess came to the conclusion that male and female unison in one body could facilitate mortality.  Bess, himself, conducted numerous experiments on his own genitals to create a hermaphroditic element within himself.  

Forrest Bess and his work highlight the theme of this class: the use of underlying science to find meaning within art.  He portrayed his dreams through his paintings and analyzed them through psychoanalysis and Jungian principles.

Event 4: Biomedical Library (Extra Credit)

UCLA is such a huge campus there are many places that remain unknown to most students.  With all of the construction that occurs on campus, we tend to only focus on the new buildings being built and forget about the older buildings that are filled with years of history and knowledge.  I had no clue that the Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library existed—which made my visit to the library an interesting experience.

Tucked away in South Campus off of Charles E. Young Drive, the UCLA Biomedical Library’s History and Special Collections for the Sciences was established in 1964.  The library’s collection includes history textbooks related to just about every science topic related to the medical field.  It contains countless shelves of books pertaining to biomedical professions as well.

The biomedical library was not quite what I had expected.  Although the library is not quite as a elaborate as some of the libraries in North Campus, I had a similar feel to it.  I had anticipated that the building would be one newer, featuring state of the art facilities similar to the CNSI building.  Instead, it had a older, more traditional library feel.  The book stacks had a unique feel to them as well, as I felt as if I had entered the hull of a ship.  The stairs connecting one level of the stacks to the next were directly one on top of the other, and floor level was stamped on the steel walls next to the stairs similarly to how I would imagine it would be on a boat.  The book stacks were eerily quiet, but it makes for the perfect environment to get work done.

So far, each of the guest lectures and extra events had somehow connected the two cultures of science and art together.  The UCLA Biomedical Library was much different, as it if only focuses on the science culture.  I found this a little surprising, so I searched the library to find a connection between science and art.  I was unsuccessful in doing so, yet came to the conclusion that not everything is a pure combination of the two cultures,  However, it is the research done in this library, combined with a good amount of creativity that brings the cultures of art and science closer together.

Event 3: The Museum of Jurassic Technology

This past week, I visited the Museum of Jurassic Technology.  My visit to the museum—from my arrival to my experience at the museum—was full of surprises.  All of the museums I have visited in the past have bright lights, high ceilings and tile floors—the Museum of Jurassic Technology, was just the opposite, with very little light (sometimes no light at all), low ceilings and carpet.  All of these factors added to the effect of the museum, creating an atmosphere that accentuates the “Jurassic technology” that it features.  

The exhibit that stood out to me the most was the work of Hagop Sandaldjian.  Sandaldjan is best known for his miniature work, which he features on the eyes of needles.  His work is so minute that it can only really be seen through a magnifying glass.  At the museum, he had three examples of his work, one which featured an extremely detailed sculpture of Goofy.  It’s hard to imagine not only how he came up with the idea to create such miniature art, but also the amount of patience that went into the creation of such a tiny piece of art. He carves his sculptures using either diamond or ruby dust and paints them by using a single strand from a brush, indicating the scale on which he works. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Museum of Jurassic Technology; it features many unique pieces of art that wouldn’t ordinarily be found in a “normal museum.”  Although the title of the museum includes the word “technology,” much of the art is created without what we now refer to as “technology.”  However, the art in the museum is equally as fascinating as the art we see today being produced with modern technology.  

Event 2: What's Wrong with Fat?

In this discussion of Abigail Saguy’s work What’s Wrong with Fat?, a panel of UCLA faculty from different departments came together to provide their commentary on this book.  Although I personally have not read this book, I learned through listening to the book discussion that Saguy focused on the undeniable stigma that comes with overweight people and how that affects our perception of health in the medical field.  For most people, the word “fat” is synonymous to “unhealthy.”  However, there is actually very little scientific evidence that shows a strong correlation between body weight and healthiness.  Ed Walker from the UCLA Sociology Department commented on the societal constructs of the “obesity epidemic.”  We frame obesity as some type of disease; this ultimately causes society to limit themselves in their views.  New information, unless aided by public favor, is often ignored for the convenience of maintaining the status quo.

Obviously, public perception holds profound weight in what we accept to be true or possible.  I thought that this underlying fact paralleled with the idea of space exploration before it became a reality.  Space exploration was often thought of as something of the imagination or purely taken from science fiction; however, once society was able to shift their perspectives, people accomplished what had seemed impossible to begin with.  With a little open-mindedness, I feel like this book could change the way the medical field perceives weight and its association with body weight.

Works Cited:

Barclay, Eliza. "What's Wrong With Calling Obesity A Medical Problem?" NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/16/169540265/whats-wrong-with-calling-obesity-a-medical-problem>.

Detrick, Paul. "UCLA Professor Abigail Saguy on What's Wrong with Fat?"Reason.com. Reason Foundation, 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. <http://reason.com/reasontv/2013/03/18/ucla-professor-abigail-saguy-on-whats-wr>.

Saguy, Abigail. "Weight-Based Stigma and Bullying." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/abigail-saguy/weight-based-stigma_b_1959578.html>.

"What's Wrong with Fat? A Book Discussion with Abigail Saguy." UCLA Center for the Study of Women. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://www.csw.ucla.edu/events/whats-wrong-with-fat-a-book-discussion-with-abigail-saguy>.

"What’s Wrong with Fat?" UC Health. UC Health, 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://health.universityofcalifornia.edu/2012/12/19/whats-wrong-with-fat/>.

Week 9: Space and Art

In examining something as concrete and exact as space exploration, I wondered how art could have any effect on this field that seems to be purely science.  However, after watching the lecture and further research, I realized that space exploration might not have been possible if it weren’t for art serving as propaganda.  Art was the catalyst for this field of science.

In the 1950s, the idea of manned space travel was something that only existed in science fiction or our imaginations.  During WWII, rocket power missiles were used as weapons by the Germans; so after the war, Americans though of rockets as just that: weapons.  The government paid very little attention to the potential of this field, and necessary funds were not delegated.  This all changed when Collier’s magazine released articles showing a detailed plan for manned space travel not far into the future; the articles explained how something like this could be accomplished with 1950s technology.  Beyond the in depth description the complete possibility of space exploration, the magazine utilized extremely realistic illustrations of how this vision could come to be.  The visualization of space stations, spacecraft, etc made the idea of space travel immediate and real.  They sparked the desire within the public to go to space.  Public opinion, in turn, helped to sway congress that a space program was worth funding. 

Most technological advancements start from the imagination, and in this case, almost directly resulted from the influence of art.  Without the concept art provided by artists such as Chesley Bonestell, Fred Freeman and Rolf Klep, we may have never reached space and all it’s possibilities. 

Works Cited:

Boucher, Marc. "Space and Art." NASA Watch. Spaceref Interactive Inc., 30 May 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. <http://nasawatch.com/archives/2013/05/space-and-art.html>.

Parker, Charley. "How Concept Art Helped Sell the U.S. Space Program | Tor.com."Tor.com. 2013 Macmillan, 13 Aug. 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2013. <http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/08/how-concept-art-helped-sell-the-us-space-program>.

"The Art of Chesley Bonestell." Bonestell.org. 2013 Bonestell LLC, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. <http://www.bonestell.org/>.

Vesna , Victoria, dir. Space Part 1. 2012. Film. 30 Nov 2013. <

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2O5C0Iv6ROo#

Vesna , Victoria, dir. Space Part 3. 2012. Film. 30 Nov 2013. <

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xCvFdfjj404

Event 1: Dow Jones - A Solfége Economy

When I walked into Gareth Walsh’s exhibition, I was honestly extremely confused and at lost for words for what exactly the art was trying to portray.  It just seemed like a random sequence of people in suits reciting notes on three screens.  As I blankly stared at what seemed like nothing, Walsh begin to explain his piece and how it came to be.

Utilizing real time date, the three screens flash video clips of actors, portraying corporate executives, singing a variation of the notes do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do.  Each note was assigned a numerical value of increase or decrease which mirrored the way in which the stock market value was increasing or decreasing.  The first four keys were values below zero and the last four keys were values above zero.  Pitch also played a role in depicting the variation of the fluctuation. Essentially, Walsh displayed stock market fluctuations through musical notes.

According to Walsh, he received his inspiration from the economic recession of 2009.  This piece was created to try and make sense of all the madness during that time.  Walsh’s use of computer science to create a work of art that relays a message to its viewers ties in the main theme of this class of C.P. Snow’s idea of “The Third Culture.”

Works Cited:

"CNSI Special Lectures." CNSI UCLA. n.d. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://www1.cnsi.ucla.edu/events/event-category-view?category_id=174172>

"Dow Jones." Dow Jones. n.d. Web. 18 Nov 2013. <http://www.dowjones.com/>

"Gareth Walsh." garethwalsh.com. n.d. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://gareth-walsh.com/>

"Market Overview." CNN Money. n.d. Web. 19 Nov 2013. <http://money.cnn.com/data/markets/>

"Stocks Basics." Investopedia. n.d. Web. 18 Nov 2013. <http://www.investopedia.com/university/stocks/stocks3.asp>

Week 8: Neuroscience and Art

Art is often evaluated with the emotion it evokes from us or the way it makes us feel.  This association between art and feelings is bridged by the nervous system.  Therefore, the worlds of art and neuroscience become inseparable considering our thoughts and feelings are dictated by our brains.

Our brain is fundamentally controlled by neurons which send chemical signals through synapses to communicate with each other.  The pathways in which these signals travel determine how we think, act and feel.  By understanding these circuits, we are able to understand the basic principles of how the brain operates.  These pathways can be distinguished through brainbows.  Brainbows distinguish each neuron from each other by adding fluorescent color to specific proteins.  In this way, these brain circuits can be identified to promote scientific discovery while producing a beautiful image.

http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/usr/connectome/brainbow/weissman_purkinje_sm.jpg

One way in which our brain interprets art is through lines.  Although things are not distinctly outlined in real life, we are able to perceive line drawings as reality.  Lines are not real, yet we think them to be. We are able to do so because the way in which we understand lines utilize the same neural process that allows us to perceive the edges of objects.

http://erinhillmyblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/kiosk-line-drawing.jpg

Artists who understand brain perception are able to make their art much more complex and dynamic.  An example of this is Leonard da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.  If you look directly at her eyes, she appears to be smiling; however if you look directly at her mouth, her smile fades.  This is due to the way your peripheral vision effects your perception.  Da Vinci intentionally blurred the lines of the mouth to create that mystery with her expression.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg/687px-Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg

Creative capability stems from the brain.  Without neuroscience, we would be unable to appreciate art the way we do now.  And the understanding of this advancing field will only help artists to push new boundaries and evoke new emotions from their viewers.

Works Cited:

"Brainbow." Center for Brain Science. Center for Brain Science at Harvard University, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/connectome-project/brainbow>.

"How Do Neurons Work?" University of Bristol. University of Bristol, 27 Sept. 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.bris.ac.uk/synaptic/basics/basics-2.html>.

Landau, Elizabeth. "What the Brain Draws From: Art and Neuroscience." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/health/art-brain-mind/>.

Maria, Cara Santa. "Neuroscience & Art: Margaret Livingstone Explains How Artists Take Advantage Of Human Visual Processing (VIDEO)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/neuroscience-art-margaret-livingstone_n_2339429.html>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious / Memory (Part 1).” Lecture. 19 Nov 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DLVQIwOn7o8>

Week 7: NanoTech and Art

Initially, I thought nanotechnology was something used primarily in the medical field and high-tech devices.  I had no clue that nanotechnology is all around us; I had only thought of nanotechnology art as something that uses cutting edge science (as seen in “Art in the Age of Nanotechnology”), not as something as simple as an athletic shoe or a golf club shaft.  I never would have thought that athletics and nanotechnology would be so interconnected—I soon found out that without nanotechnology, modern day athletics would be nowhere close to what it is today.

The advancements made the nanotechnology field over the last fifty years has made it possible for Kobe Bryant to jump higher and for Tiger Woods to hit the golf ball longer and straighter.  Yes, it is true that they would probably still be one of the best athletes in their sports, but it is doubtful that they would be able to compete at the same level they do now.  

http://lakerholicz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/kobe-bryant-top-5-dunks.jpg

For a shoe to be effective, it needs to have a good balance between durability and comfort.  That balance is generally seen in the sole of a shoe—more comfortable shoes have softer soles that absorb more shock, but don’t last as long, while harder soles are generally less comfortable, but last a lot longer.  Nanotechnology allows the rubber soles of athletic shoes to include the perfect balance of both hardness and softness without sacrificing the look of the shoe.  The mixture of hard and soft components in the sole takes place on the molecular level, allowing shoe designers to be as creative as they want.   The result is a visually appealing shoe that is durable, stable, and aesthetically pleasing.  

http://tommytoy.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f3a4072c970b0167622927fc970b-550wi

Nanotechnology also plays an important role in the technological structure of the golf club, particularly in the design of the shaft.  In golf, there are two types of shafts—steel and graphite.  Steel shafts sacrifice some distance, but allow for more control of the golf ball in a shot, while graphite shafts increase distance, but sacrifice control.  Nanotechnology now allows golf companies like Graffaloy to create graphite shafts that also feature steel shaft characteristics.  They are able to take the positive features of both shafts and fuse them together to create a better performing shaft.  

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/2443424-3x2-340x227.jpg

Because nanotechnology occurs on such a microscopic level, it is being used on a number of different levels, from medicine and electronics, to even sports.  In the case of athletics, nanotechnology is making the game a whole lot easier for athletes, and even eventually change the way sports will be played in the future.  

Works Cited:

"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Forman, Ethan. "The next Big Small Thing." UMass Lowell. N.p., 3 Aug. 2007. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.uml.edu/News/news-articles/2002-05/article342.aspx>.

Halley, Jim. "Nanotechnology Drives Golf to New Lengths." USA Today. USA Today, 16 Aug. 2005. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2005-08-16-nanotechnology_x.htm>.

"Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment: The Game Changer." Nanowerk. Nanowerk, 27 May 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=30661.php>.

"Top 8 Myths of Gold Swing." Golf News. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://golfnews.homestead.com/nanotechnology_golf_shaft.html>.

Week 6: BioTech and Art

The world of bioart recently facilitated by advancements in biotechnology has created both a new medium to express art and a new platform in which artists can comment on science and its practices.  Just as new frontiers of technology which manipulate living organisms, Bioart is often subject to scrutiny from the public eye due to debates of its ethics. 

Bioart has has increased the avenues with which art can be explored.  At first, I did not really understand the difference between what scientists and artists were utilizing biotechnology for.  It just seemed to me that artists were using this technology in a somewhat frivolous way; however, after doing some research, I know realize that bioart is just another way artists are pushing the envelope of expression.  It also acts as another bridge that can connect the worlds of art and science given that artists have to have a background in science to produce this form of art.  An example of bioart can be seen in Hunter O’Reilly’s Living Drawings which use glowing bacteria to produce an image.

http://www.huntercole.org/artgallery/livingbacterialdrawings/images/plantembryo1m.JPG

Adam Brandej’s Genpets collection showcase a small creature in a package which resembles a toy.  The creature is made out of latex and is strapped to a heart monitor.  It’s limbs are bound, and the wrists and ankles are slightly inflamed to show the animal has been struggling against the restraints.  There is a website connected with the Genpets display that makes it seem like genetically engineered pets are available for purchase.  This showcase offers commentary on the consequences of biotechnology and genetic engineering.

http://www.genpets.com/images/Genpet_feature.jpg

Although people seem hesitant to the possibilities of biotechnology, many examples can be seen in our own popular culture.  For instance, the popular Marvel superhero, Spider-Man, receives his powers through genetic mutation from a spider bite.  With the social acceptance of fictional characters like Spider-Man, it leads me to believe that studies and research will continue to make strides in the biotechnology field.

http://paranerds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/spiderman.jpg

Works Cited:

DaSilva, Edgar. "Art, Biotechnology and the Culture of Peace." Electronic Journal of Biotechnology. N.p., 15 Aug. 2004. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <http://www.ejbiotechnology.info/content/vol7/issue2/full/8/>.

Gkoutziouli, Katerina. "Art and Biotechnology: When Art Looks into Science |." The Rest Is Art. N.p., 26 Oct. 2010. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <http://therestisart.wordpress.com/2010/10/26/art-and-biotechnology-when-art-looks-into-science/>.

"Spider-Man." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man>.

Vesna, Victoria, narr. “BioTech Art Lectures I-V.” N.p., . web. 5 Nov 2012.

Weir, Kirsten. "Biotechnology on Display." The Scientist. N.p., 9 Mar. 2007. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/24834/title/Biotechnology-on-display/>.

Week 4: MedTech and Art

At first glance, the worlds of art and medicine seem to be two separate entities.  However, I have come to understand that the two are actually interdependent, and advances in the medical field have resulted in advances in art.

Rapid strides in technology have been made in recent years which have allowed doctors and artists alike to change the way in which they view their respective fields.  For example, MRI scans have revolutionized the way in which we can see the inner-workings of the human body.  Doctors no longer have to perform invasive surgeries to understand certain bodily functions.  Artists such as Justine Cooper are drawn to these scans and view them as a new medium for art: MRI scans can largely be associated with identity, and they act as a window into someone’s personality.

 Medicine has provided art with different tools with which to produce art; however, art intertwines with medicine even further.  Medicine is a scientific study, yet it’s practice is an art.  The doctor-patient relationship is a crucial one in order for patients to heal, and healing starts from the hope that their physicians give them.  As stated in “The Hippocratic Oath,” doctors are responsible for understanding the connection of art and medicine: “I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.”  To be a good physician, one must be a good artist with strong scientific knowledge.

Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations Between Science and Arts.” (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 26 Oct. 2012.

"Justine Cooper-RAPT I." Online Video Clip. Youtube. Youtube, 2007 September 23. Web. 26 October 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dIzBwK0xoE>

Palmer, Angela. Self-portrait based on MRI scans. Angela Palmer. 26 October 2013. <http://www.angelaspalmer.com/>

Panda, S.C. "Medicine: Science or Art?" NCBI. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2006. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3190445/>.

Tyson, Peter. “The Hippocratic Oath Today.” PBS. PBS, 27 Mar. 2001. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine Parts 1-3.” Lecture. Web. 26 Oct. 2012.

Week 3: Robotics and Art

Since the beginning of the twentieth century and the Industrial Revolution, there has been an intense movement towards creating technologies that would make the lives of humans easier.  This trend started in the factories, as automobile companies like Ford, which once constructed cars by hand, are now completely operated by machinery.  Because the invention of these machines has made our lives much simpler, scientists and inventors around the world are racing to create the newest and greatest technology. The art field is very similar to the science world; artists are now using machines and other forms of technology to create their art.  It still is art, but it is gradually moving away from the traditional painting and taking a new form.

In his TED talk, Rodney Brooks suggests that our lives will be invaded by robots in a matter of years.  In principle, this doesn’t sound like such a bad thing, as the robots would take care of the chores we loathe, giving us a greater opportunity to do what we want.  However, there is the possibility that our society could eventually be run by robots like in the film I, Robot (2004).  In the film, VIKI—the artificial intelligence unit controlling the entire city of Chicago—becomes corrupt, putting countless human lives in danger.  When the film was released, human-like robots seemed like a distant reality. Only seven years later, there are extremely lifelike robots that can be found throughout the world, just like the Japanese models we saw in lecture.  We are working so hard to push the limits of technology to create robots that will mimic human life and also make our lives easier.  However, we must now think about the reality that we could push technology past the point where we can control it.  

However, technological advancement doesn’t come without its costs.  Art in the traditional sense has begun to suffer because of the improvement of technology.  In his writing in “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” Walter Benjamin talks about how people don’t perceive art the same way as they have in the past.  He says that there is no longer a distinct differentiation between an original and a reproduction.  You can now have an exact replica of a painting like Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Last Supper” in your home for a quarter of the price because of the advances we have made in mechanical reproduction.  Yes, it is true that art is now as visually appealing as it has ever been, but there are very few artists that create “traditional art” anymore because of the technological advancements that have been made over the last century.  Because of this technological transformation, we are gradually seeing a new breed of tech-art forming.  

Works Cited:

Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.

Gardiner, Bonnie. irobot. 2012. Photograph. BusinessTechnologyWeb. 14 Oct 2013. <http://business-technology.co.uk/2012/12/did-the-mayans-predict-terminator/irobot/>.

TED. "Rodney Brooks: How robots will invade our lives". Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 10 October 2008. Web. 13 October 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdyRmdv-KiY>

The Last Supper reproduction of famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci. N.d. Photograph. Xiamen Noah Art&Craft Co., LTDWeb. 14 Oct 2013. <http://noah-art.en.alibaba.com/product/1239825828-219205711/The_Last_Supper_reproduction_of_famous_paintings_of_Leonardo_da_Vinci.html>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt2.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 15 April 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk>

Week 2: Math and Art

In today’s culture and society, math and art are often seen at two different ends of the spectrum.  However, taking a closer look, mathematics is apparent in most things around us; and by harnessing the power of mathematics, new avenues of art have been able to develop and change our views about this relationship between two seemingly unrelated subjects.

To begin, math appears in the most fundamental of all things: nature.  Fractals, for instance, is a geometric shape which demonstrates the relationship where similarity holds at smaller and smaller scales.  Fractals are very common in nature.  It turns out that these phenomena of shapes are not just random occurrences; rather, they can be represented by mathematical equations.  Frost is an example of a fractal.

Math also plays a crucial role in architecture.  Even before modern technology, the application of mathematics to build structures can be seen, and most of this can be seen through further examination of the Golden Ratio.  Famous structures such as the Parthenon and the Great Pyramid of Giza utilize this Golden Ratio.

Math has promoted certain strides to be made in many different fields of art.  Without the understanding of certain mathematic principles, the originality and creativity of art could not be what it is today.  Brunelleschi’s idea of perspective and vanishing point allowed works of art to become more realistic, a term referred to as natural perspective.  In Robert Lang’s TED Talks, he discusses how the art form of origami has been around for hundreds of years; yet, we have not nearly exhausted all the possibilities this art holds.  Origami began creating very basic shapes, but today those basic shapes have become intricate masterpieces.  Essentially, the evolution of origami was facilitated by mathematics.

In conclusion, math and art mutually help each other to grow.  The separation of the two, especially in modern society, becomes more difficult.  By understanding both worlds, humans have the potential to continue creating things that have never been thought of before.

Week 1: Two Cultures

This idea of the “Two Cultures” is quite prominent here on UCLA’s campus. The divide between North campus and South campus can be seen through something as tangible as the school’s architecture.  For example, South campus buildings (which house all the science classes) seem simple, clean and modern; I think they reflect society’s understanding of science which is one of directness and apathy.  

This divide is made deeper through the way in which students from opposite ends of campus perceive each other.  Someone told me the other day that I “looked” like a North campus major.  I asked what that even meant, and his response was, “You don’t look awkward.”  Obviously, there are certain stigmas that come with being a North campus or South campus major; and these stigmas are perpetuated by stereotypes.  These biases only cause for larger separation between the worlds of art and science. 

In his work, C.P. Snow stated that a third culture would emerge to help bridge the gap between intellectuals and scientists.  This emergence must start from the recognition that science and art share the same objective: to create or discover something new and original.  The methods of achieving this common goal merely varies within different fields.  Today, the realization that these seemingly polar spheres can enhance our technological strides when working together have resulted in the establishment of new areas of study such as Human Biology and Society and Public Health. 

http://seedmagazine.com/twocultures/

Works Cited:

Snow, C.P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Cambridge University, Cambridge. 1959.

[Stereotypical scientist]. 2013. Photograph. n.p. Web. 3 Oct 2013. <http://captainelaboration.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/scientists.jpg>

[UCLA Math Science Building]. 2013. Photograph. n.p. Web. 3 Oct 2013.<http://space.admin.ucla.edu/space_plsql/pkg_library.show_mime_file?p_file_id=454>

"What Is "ArtScience"?" The ArtScience Prize. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct 2013. <http://www.artscienceprize.org/asp/what-is-artscience>.

Wilson, Stephen D. “Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology.” College Art Association Meetings. New York, New York. 1 Oct. 2012. Lecture.