Unit 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

http://www.askthetrainer.com/anatomy-diagram-of-human-body/

Medicine, technology and art have been a dominant trio for over 4,000 years. Back in 800 B.C., ancient Indians performed plastic surgery on damaged faces from war (Vesna). In 1543, Andreas Vesalius published “one of the most influential books in medical history on human anatomy” titled “De humani corporis fabrica” (Vesna). In 1858, Henry Gray published his famous book titled “Anatomy” which marked the growing knowledge of the human body and the advancement of medical technologies. These three examples are just a few instances prior to the 21st century where medicine, art and technology start to show their prominence. 

http://thetimeriver.blogspot.com/2011/01/medicine-men-of-ancient-india.html

In my opinion, the most fascinating technological developments in art and medicine are the x-ray, MRI and CAT scan. As an athlete, these things are pertinent to my health and my ability to perform at the highest level. They also function as tools for airport security and manufacturing (Vesna).  At first, I did not understand how these things related to art. After viewing the materials, I learned that these technologies provide a non-invasive way to study and observe the human body (Vesna). X-rays take photographs through radiation while MRI’s use magnets, and CAT scans slice 3D pictures of organs to view a variety of angles (Vesna). Now doctors can directly see brain tumors, cancers, signs of stroke, broken bones, torn ligaments or other illness without cutting the body open (Vesna). Similarly, x-rays, MRI’s and CAT scans bring new possibilities for artists to understand the human body and find inspiration for their work. Sometimes artists choose to get an MRI of their own body to “visualize something which lies beyond our senses in the hope of rendering it clearer” (Contemporary Aesthetics).

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

While some artists study anatomy to enchance their artwork, some artists choose to use the technological inspiration directly and paint what they see. Laura Jacobson of Stanford University created a series of artwork inspired from a brain scan research study (Jacobson). “Through acrylics, sculpture, and etchings, Jacobson reinterprets the MRI” (Jacobson). As seen below, a street artist named SHOK-1 paints colorful x-ray murals.

http://blogof.francescomugnai.com/2013/09/incredible-colorful-x-ray-street-art-shok-1/

In some cases, x-rays and MRI’s help artists do more than inspire artwork. X-rays can help artist authenticators discover information about paintings of the past. An x-ray may “detect traces of minerals and other elements within the paint” and can help “prove the nature and origin of the painting” (Art Experts).

Citations:

Jacobson, Laura. "Amazing Art Inspired By MRIs." Popular Science. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-06/amazing-art-inspired-mris>.

"The Aesthetics of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): From the Scientific Laboratory to an Artwork." Contemporary Aesthetics. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.contempaesthetics.org/newvolume/pages/article.php?articleID=569>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=368&v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ>.

"X-ray Examination." X-ray Examination. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.artexpertswebsite.com/scientific-tests/x-ray-examination.php>.

Week 3 Robotics and Art

"Artists have been working with robots since the early 1900s (Vesna).  However it did not begin there, as robots came about through a lengthy process of history.  It started with the printing press, as Gutenberg introduced the world to mass production as he displayed how to "separate actions into pieces" (Vesna). Years later, the use of mass production is visited by Henry Ford in his effort to create the first affordable car for everyday people.

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/10/16/assembly-line-anniversary

The use of the assembly line came with some criticism, as people started to see the workers as less than human and just "part of the machine" (Vesna).  Because of this, writers began to create stories and images that displayed today what would be known as a cyborg- the half human half robot in disapproval of the assembly line. 

image 2 http://www.bioteams.com/2007/03/28/mobile_phone_users.html

Dehumanization is not the only issue of mass production. I agree with Walter Benjamin in his writings that while industrialization has helped society prosper immensely, we have taken a great blow to the uniqueness and indidvuality of human creation and art (Benjamin).  

That is why in modern day people will pay massive amounts of money for products that are not mass produced.  A Rolls Royce takes a long and extensive six months to complete with all its hand-crafted detail, while it takes a quick thirteen hours for your everyday Toyota (RollsRoyce Raleigh Blog).  

http://www.wallconvert.com/search/rolls+royce/

Human society has greatly benefited from robots and industrialization. But in the end, there is nothing that can replace the handy work of a talented artistic individual regardless of how much time and money a robot may save you (Benefits of Robots).  


Citations:
"How Long Does It Take To Build A Rolls-Royce?" RollsRoyce Raleigh Blog. N.p., 12 Dec. 2014. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

"INTEGRATOR OF NEW AND USED ROBOTS FOR INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION." Benefits of Robots. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

"The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Walter Benjamin. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Intro." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

Unit 2: Math and Art

I have gained a great amount of insight this week about how math has influenced art and science. In order to draw certain art forms and create a certain look, artists used mathematical formulas for exact measurements. In 1413, Filippo Brunelleschi of Italy made the single vanishing point “ in which all parallel lines on a plane should converge” (Vesna). In an image with a single vanishing point, I learned that the lines do not have to be parallel on a picture plane but they will intersect on the image to create the vanishing point (Frantz). The mathematical formulas allowed Brunelleschi to control the perspective of the spectator. Secondly, Alberti’s floor covered in square tiles is another example of using a single vanishing point to create perspective. By using a grid, the perpendicular edges “converge to the center point of the pigment” (Vesna). Lastly, “the golden ratio” taught me to appreciate the geometry involved in creating artwork. “The golden ratio” uses geometry to create specific angles and lines in the artwork, and is seen in “The Mona Lisa”.


Picture 1

Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” helps me understand the influence of mathematics in art and science. DaVinci combined art an science to advance both in a remarkable way" (Mathtivities). It is a “symbol and icon in art and science” (Vesna) because without math, this piece of artwork wouldn’t be possible. Da Vinci uses pen and ink to draw the ideal human proportions of a man. Even though the drawing was done in 1487, it greatly influenced geometrical architecture throughout the entire twentieth century.


Picture 2

By using mathematics in their creative work, artists and scientists have taught us that math allows us to create extraordinary pieces. Maurits Escher is a prime example, "as his work developed he drew great inspiration from mathematical ideas he read about" (Platonic Realms). Things like perspective and the golden ratio bring 2d pictures to 3d. "The Golden ratio is a special number found by dividing a line into two parts so the longer part divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the longer part" (Elaine). Mathematical formulas and geometric shapes makes the picture more detailed and complex. Perspective and a single vanishing point has allowed artists to control the view of the spectator. When math and art work together to compliment each other, innovation occurs.


Picture 3



Citations
Picture 1: http://www.watercolorpainting.com/perspective_1_2_3_point.htm
Picture 2: http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/135/expert/1/index.html
Picture 3: http://www.op-art.co.uk/

Frantz, Marc. Lesson 3: Vanishing Points and Looking at Art (2000): n. pag. Http://www.cs.ucf.edu/courses/cap6938-02/refs/VanishingPoints.pdf. Web.

J, Elaine. "What Is the Golden Ratio?" LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 24 June 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

"Proportion: DaVinci's 'Vitruvian Man'" Proportion: DaVinci's 'Vitruvian Man'N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

"The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher." The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher. N.p., 1997. Web. <http://platonicrealms.com/minitexts/Mathematical-Art-Of-M-C-Escher/>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg>.

Unit 1: Two Cultures

“Creativity is, in my view, something that it is impossible to define in words" (Bohm). Through the material this week, I have realized that the education system has hindered my creativity and limited my opportunities to learn.  According to Bohm, creativity is impossible to define. The educational system has put my creative abilities into a definable box.

Even though I am a political science major and am required to take some classes in other majors, I still feel like I am restricted to a certain kind of learning in my major. For this reason, I feel a divide in our campus. Professor Vesna discussed the geographical division in the UCLA campus (Vesna pt3).  The science and art buildings are not close. This has been the case throughout all of my education. It has created this stigma in my head that art and science do not coincide with each other.  

The separation of art and science has been reinforced in television, books, movies, etc. This is where the stereotypes like the “mad scientist” and “mad artists” come into play (Vesna pt2).  When I think of these terms, they have a negative connotation. It brings the thought of two polar opposites and this has been ingrained in my mind through my education. 




I have learned that this separation was never intended. Art and science are not meant to be two different cultures, but be one. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was one of the finest poets and playwrights to ever live; at the end of his life, all he cared about was the discoveries he could make in science to further the connection between art and science (Vesna pt2). He believed they only worked at their full potential when they worked together (Vesna pt2).  This is exactly where we have strayed from in today’s education system.

Steven Pinker is an advocate for bringing art and science together.  He states that humanities in conjunction with science could shed a gigantic amount of light (Pinker).  He believes that there is so much more to be discovered and the reevaluation of our education system will play a big role in furthering our discovers (Pinker). However, C.P. Snow was the first advocate for the two cultures to combine and the education system to change. Fifty years ago, he said that our education had "gone wrong" (Snow). It appears that we haven't made the change.

Citations: 

Bohm, David Joseph. On Creativity. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. N.p.: MIT, 1968. Print.

"Heroes Out of a Box." Dreaming Hobbit. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe | Biography - German Author." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web.

"Mad Scientist." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web.

Pinker, Steven. "SEEDMAGAZINE.COM Two Cultures Steven Pinker."YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BUbVc7qVpg>.

Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.

Vesna, Victoria. "Two Cultures Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=20&v=GUr4xxZ_0gw>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Two Cultures Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=15&v=4FOEuxrwxd0>.