WEEK 7: NEUROSCIENCE & ART

When I think of the human brain I immediately think of a control center for the entire body. I compare this part of the body as if it is the controller for a television set. This day in age there are so many medical advances and the most progressed area is in the neuroscience are. After taking Philosophy 7 course here at UCLA, it has opened me up to the idea of conscious and unconscious thought that the mind can go though. These ideas that philosophers explore can be deep and overwhelming but I believe that the mind is a form of art because of the many states it can endure.

http://www.mindmotivations.com/articles/different-states-mind

In lecture 1 it talked about the idea of conscious and unconscious states, these are two interesting concepts. A conscious state is described as something you are aware of. For example, if you are sewing a piece of cloth and you prick your finger, you're going to feel that pain and react in a way of discomfort. Whereas when you are in an unconscious state you are unaware of what is going on for example, being in a coma. 

http://adamnannini.com/2014/04/03/writing-unconscious/

Ramon i Cajal is one of the most famous known artist/scientists. Ramon first grew up wanted to be a artist and found himself later as the father of modern neuroscience. He would look at scans of neurons and dendrites and sketch them as his own art pieces. He found fulfillment in science and began to integrate art with his obsession. He mostly drew dendrites of synapses information. I find this interesting because the brain has so many different factors it controls and Ramon i Cajal focus on the smallest factor yet the most effectual part of the body and draws these images as art pieces. 

https://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/2006/08/29/the-discovery-of-the-neuron/

Works Cited 

Lecture 1

Lecture 2 

Lecture 3

"Swann’s Hypothesis." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Nov. 2007. Web. 24 May 2015.

WEEK 8

When I first read the description of this Unit's subject I was a little confused on what it could incorporate. So, I watched all the lecture videos and the one video that stuck on to me was the lecture video about the Blue Morpho and the idea of nanophotonics.

http://darwinsbeard.net/2014/10/04/scintillating-cells/

Dr. Gimzewski expressed the idea of nano photonics which the ability to notice color change in something as well as nontoxic pigmentation, differing from he usual pigmentation color change. The whole idea is thought that a blue morph should be back and show no color. But instead, it shows to the natural eye the color of blue. What's going on inside these Morpho's wings? In the inside of the wing, there's "christmas tree" protein structures in which light manipulates on the nanoscale therefore reflecting a blue shade.

(This here is an example of nano photonics, the zoomed in picture is of a data chip)

http://thefutureofthings.com/3518-worlds-tiniest-nanophotonic-switch/

It is amazing to me that nature can affect these cells and make them go through a process naturally to give off a different color. I think that this idea of nano photonics completely goes along with art in a way it is a natural way of displaying something organic in another natural way. Thorugh this unit it has opened me up to a whole new subject of art and not just the display of the visual attributes, but also the way in which the art is displayed like through nano photonics.

http://www.ictp-saifr.org/?page_id=3616

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Works Cited
Nanotech for Artists Part- Dr. Gimzewski
Nanotech for Artists Part 3- Dr. Gimzewski
Nanotech for Artists Part 4- Dr. Gimzewski
Nanotech for Artists Part 6- Dr. Gimzewski
"DNA Folding, in Detail." Paul Rothemund:. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2015.

Week 6: Art an Biotechnology

The incorporation of genomics to art appears to me as the most interesting concept only because you can look at two different living species and intertwine them through genomics. For example, an artist (Edurado Kac) can take their own genetics and incorporate them into a flowers genetics which connects two different species.

 http://www.ekac.org/kac.nat.hist.enigma.01.jpg

When I think of a gene I think of the most simplest unit in life which makes up the entire universe. And what is the most appealing to is the massive connecter that a gene is within everything. The genome project does not just create new life, it also saves lives as well.

 http://ethicsandsociety.org/2015/04/10/is-the-moratorium-on-editing-the-human-genome-ethically-justifiable/

Scientists use genetics to advance life, health, and efficiency. Artists use genetics to connect life, culture, and well-being. These two very different ideas can both be looked at in similarity. For instance, the genome project involves genetic material, DNA. Each and every person has their very own composition of DNA. However, they are stemmed from their parents. Barry Schuler, artist, spoke at a TED talk and thought of the genome project and DNA has a USB. Interestingly enough, he is right. You are walking around, on the daily, with your own USB of DNA that came from combining your parents own USB’s.

http://www.litandart.com/2008/01/30/the-art-science-phenomenon/

Art and science are connected by seeing the beauty, in even the smallest thing, like the smallest unit of DNA. However, Barry connects art, science, and technology by expanding on the idea that the genome project is a container full of genetic material.

Lecture 1, Vesa Vanessa

Lecture 2, Vesa Vanessa 

"GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2015.

"Genomics 101." Barry Schuler:. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2015.

Lecture video part 1

Lecture video part 2

Unit 4

The idea of the human body going through biotechnology and nanotechnology is what caught me with the most interest. When I think of science and technology influencing medicine I instantly think of medical machines such as a CT scan, an MRI, or a X-ray. All these different machines are a way in which the medical field can advance their way of medicine through science and technology. 

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mri-scan/pages/introduction.aspx

Above I mentioned several scans that are used in the medical field, in which all of them allow doctors to basically see inside your body. Say for instance you have a broken femur, a X-Ray will show this bone in a matter or its misplacement and the radiologists will notice the difference. This is where you can see the correlation between science and technology which would be the X-Ray machine influencing medicine which is the distinguished broken femur. 

 http://boneandspine.com/xray-fracture-shaft-femur/

After watching the Artificial Intelligence trailer it was interesting to me that the technology we are advanced with today is now becoming suitable for people to be able to make a machine that has emotion. This clearly shows me how the linkage of technology and medicine have combined making a robot that can receive and give emotion to others. 

"Artificial Intelligence Trailer HQ (2001)." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

Unit 4 "Body Medicine Intro" Vesna, Victoria 

Unit 4 "Lecture Part 1" Vesna, Victoria

Unit 4 "Lecture Part 2" Vesna, Victoria 

"Cremaster Cycle Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

Unit

Event 1

Event 1 

Going to this exhibit I did not know what to expect considering I'm not usually around south campus. I went with a fellow classmate to the gallery who is also new to south campus and witnessed something I have never thought to be considered technology, science, and art. 

Kathy High who is a patient of Crohn's disease specializes in the study of autoimmune disorders where she researches waste matters. The basics of this idea are the study of one's waste matters given to that who has the disease and somehow that person would take in the nutrients and use that to cure their disease.

My first reaction to this idea was extremely confused on how this process would work. But, after reading the description it became an interesting and unique sounding topic. What appealed to me was that Kathy is the one who is suffering from the disease and she is the one who explores the immune system finding out a possible cure to her own health issues.

Kathy High wrote a letter to a famous songwriter/singer and collector of art David Bowie, basically asking him for his feces because she thought that his waste would be a match for her body. In hope, High’s body will accept the nutrients from his waste and heal her disease. In return, she offered Bowie photos of herself re-enacting major parts of his career.

The incorporation of art and science becomes the most noticeable because Kathy High is offering art to Bowie who would hopefully return the favor in a scientific way though his waste which then cures her disease or Crohn’s.

Unit 3

Walter Benjamin speaks about the way industrialization is a negative affect on art. He views it as a way of stripping art away from it's creativity and identity by mass producing of objects such as machinery during industrialization.

http://walterbenjaminportbou.cat/en/content/walter-benjamin

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I feel that the mass production of something to benefit the society can have it pros and cons. I thought at first if a machine will better off a community through mass production that is the only thing that matters. But, what appeals to me is the idea that this can take away the creativity and identity of art. It is interesting that Benjamin views this subject this way and it opened my eyes to idea of mass production and the affect it could have on art.
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The first thing that I think of when I think of mass production is the brand Apple. Apple has literally taken over the world in every way possible, from cell phone, to computers, to iPads and desktops. The affect this has on people can be determined socially and by making people relay on this devices. I view these Apple products as robots because they can tell you information and interact with you in different ways.

 http://blog.jumia.com.ng/jumia-emerges-official-retailer-apple-products/

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The affect of industrialization on a society can make believe the society can relay on the machinery therefore people lose their artistic and creative thoughts. This can be seen as a con towards art and the value and need for it. I understand the concept of efficiency but when and will the mass production idea take over the creativity and ideas of art?

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_production

Works cited 

"Robots That "show Emotion"" David Hanson:. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

"My Seven Species of Robot." Dennis Hong:. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
"ArtBots: The Robot Talent Show. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Unit 2 Math & Art

Math & Art 

The idea of mathematics being the connecting factor between art and science is a brand new outlook on art for myself. I have taken Art History classes here at UCLA and I've never thought about the idea of mathematics being the connecting factor between art and science.

"Annunciation - Duccio Di Buoninsegna - Gallery - Web Gallery of Art." Annunciation - Duccio Di Buoninsegna - Gallery - Web Gallery of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.

Where I found this idea the most relevant to me is through the example in the lecture video. In 1316 Duccio's first attempt of annunciation was performed. This is the idea that you can create depth in a picture by drawing lines downward at eye level, upward below eye level, and from the side to the middle. At this point, you have created a focal point in the center of the artwork that gives the piece some sort of depth perception. "This is form of liner perspective but was only given this credit to Brunelleschi who created the first correct formulation around 1413" (Vesna, Victoria). "A perspective drawing is in one-point perspective if (i) only one vanishing point V is used, and (ii) image lines which converge to V represent lines in the real world which are orthogonal to the picture plane" (Paralle). This gave the specter the correct geometry to see the depth in the artwork. Abbott also explained this idea though the different ways you can look at a penny sitting on a table, you can look on top of it, to the side, or at an angle( Flatland). All these different views are related to depth perception.

"Khan Academy." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.

I've now gained a new outlook on the idea that math can be connected into art. The idea that an individual can incorporate math into an art piece to make the spectator view that artwork as something of higher value intrigues me.

"Images For Duccio Annunciation Of The Death Of The Virgin." Images For Duccio Annunciation Of The Death Of The Virgin. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.

Linear perspective is now a basic and common tool used by artists today that can give a piece of artwork a more realistic twist. 

WORKS CITED
Paralle. Lesson 3: Vanishing Points and Looking at Art (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
Vesna, Victoria. "Unit 2 Online Lecture- Mathmatetics Zero Perspective"  
"Flatland." , by E. A. Abbott, 1884. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
"Annunciation - Duccio Di Buoninsegna - Gallery - Web Gallery of Art." Annunciation - Duccio Di Buoninsegna - Gallery - Web Gallery of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
"Khan Academy." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
"Images For Duccio Annunciation Of The Death Of The Virgin." Images For Duccio Annunciation Of The Death Of The Virgin. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.