Blog 4

I was highly intrigued when I saw this weeks subject material. So far we have learned how science and art are related, even how math and art are related, but Medicine and art? It just seemed hard to believe. But as I did my research and watched the lectures the many interrelations between the two subjects became clear to me. The material that influenced my understanding of this week’s topic the most was the information on human dissection and its influences on both art and science in history. It is interesting to see how people’s interest in human anatomy and dissection is just as strong today as it was in the early 15^th century. Andrea Vessalius’s work stuck out to me as the most influential art of this genre. As pictured below, his work is both extremely beautiful and scientifically accurate. He is a physician, an anatomist, and an artist and is credited to be the founder of modern human anatomy.

In modern culture, people are still enthralled with human anatomy and new technology has allowed us to advance further in the field and in replicating the human body accurately. A few years ago I went to the Body Worlds Exhibit that was discussed in the lecture. I found it to be incredibly interesting and a great display of collaboration between medicine, technology, and art. My favorite displays in the museum were the ones that showed the bodies doing activities. As shown below, the added effect of them being set up as if they are still alive adds a more artistic feel to the display.

Our cultures infatuation with human anatomy in art is expressed more often then one would think. In fact just the other day I was in the clothing store Urban Outfitters and saw this poster that relates perfectly to the subject and displays how prevalent it is in our society.

CITATION

"Vivas Figuras Delas Partes Del Cuerpo Humano, Impressas En Moldes De Metal Conel Epitome De Andres Vesalio, Donde Se Contiene En Summa La Historia Dela Fabrica Del Cuerpo Del Hõbre: Y Con Otro Libro De Diego Greuino Dela Mesma Materia Traduzido Todo... Valverde De Amusco, Juan De; Vesalius." Vivas Figuras Delas Partes Del Cuerpo Humano, Impressas En Moldes De Metal Conel Epitome De Andres Vesalio, Donde Se Contiene En Summa La Historia Dela Fabrica Del Cuerpo Del Hõbre: Y Con Otro Libro De Diego Greuino Dela Mesma Materia Traduzido Todo... , Juan De; Vesalius Valverde De Amusco. Eric Chiam Kilne Bookseller, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.

"Body Worlds: Exhibits Are More than Skin Deep | CLIK/HEAR | Multimedia, Photography, Video Showcase of The Palm Beach Post." CLIKHEAR RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.

"L'Anatomie Poster - Urban Outfitters." Urban Outfitters. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine and Art: Part 2.” YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded>.

"Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564)." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.

Week 3 Robotics

In this weeks lecture, we took a look back at American history and reviewed the development of machinery and robotics in our nation. America holds a predominantly negative outlook on robotic development and the historical evidence presented in the lecture shows how this came to be. This fearful outlook that is so prevalent in western society can be traced back to our roots and the role machinery played in the industrial revolution. With the invention of assembly lines people began to be treated as if they were less than human, belittled to feel like part of a machine. There was constant fear that the work force would be entirely replaced by machinery. As Walter Benjamin’s work rose to popularity the negativity surrounding mechanical reproduction only grew. With such great opposition to industrialization, the iconic vision of robots taking over the world came to life in many different aspects of American culture. Karel Capek was the first person to use this theme of robot domination in his play R.U.R and decades later; this theme is still prevalent in American media. For example, the movie iRobot as pictured below, is a fairly recent film set in a future society where robots take over the world. The theme of robot domination is so prevalent in our culture you even see it appear in children movies, such as Disney’s Smart House; a film about a robotic house that takes over and puts the family in danger.

It is interesting to compare our American culture to that of Japan. In Japan, Robots are looked at more as friends than something that should be feared. Just as in our society, this position on robotics can be traced back to the countries history and industrial revolution. With the looming risk of being colonized, Japan was forced to quickly develop modern technology in an effort to protect their independence. As modernization was of a huge help to the country, the American-like fear of machinery never became a part of Japanese culture. Also the first robots in Japan were invented to entertain nobility and the current ones are usually small so they are not intimidating. This love for robotics is made evident in Japanese film. As pictured in the video below, Astroboy is a popular Japanese cartoon about a boy robot that helps save the world.

CITATION

"I Robot (2004)." I Robot by Muthu Sellappan. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

"Cartoon Image." Astro Boy ~. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

"Disney Channel Original Movies Smart House." Smart House. Fanpop, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

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

Kristie.Mass-produced Art at Ikea. Digital image. Swedish Freak. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2012.

"Japan's Modern History: An Outline of the Period | Asia for Educators | Columbia University." Japan's Modern History: An Outline of the Period | Asia for Educators | Columbia University. Asia For Educators, 2009. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

DESMA9 Blog #2 Math+Art

Through this weeks lectures I learned about the application of mathematics in both modern and historic art. Despite what many people believe about the two subjects, math influences art and science greatly. It is even considered to be the bridge between the two. When watching the lecture I was extremely interested in Leon Battista Alberti and his work in applying mathematical principles of perspective and optic to his art. After researching further, I found that he applied some of the mathematical concepts we learned about in creating the Santa Maria Novella, a beautiful church in Florence. This church is famous for its beautiful façades, which are the front, top portion of the building (as pictured below). They incorporate mathematical concepts in that they must be completely symmetrical around their vertical axis. Although these mathematical principles may seem simple, his idea of combining the two subjects was revolutionary and increasingly important moving forward in the current more technologically advanced society we live in. With modern technology the relationship between art and science is growing rapidly. Today there are hundreds of new art forms that directly utilize mathematics through computers.

Charles Csuri is famous for pioneering the field of computer animation, computer graphics and digital fine art and was quoted saying, “I see technology as a means to create art objects and while I’m intellectually curious about commercial applications, it is art that I seek”. He explains in his blog that it may take time to become accustom to the tools of the computer, but eventually one can express just as spontaneously and creatively using the technology as in other art forms. This resonated with me because it directly relates to electronic music craze that is sweeping our nation. Just like how many artists criticized graphic design when it started out, electronic music is heavily criticized because to other musicians it seems impossible to express creatively through synthesizers and computers. Many argue that DJs are not real artists and are simply “button pushers.” However I’m sure Csuri would agree with me and many others that it is just a more technologically advanced way of expressing musical and creative feelings. Once you understand the workings of it it is extremely complex and takes a lot of creative ability just as Csuris work in graphic design does. The last two pictures below are some of Csuri’s work and a picture that symbolizes the artistic side of electronic music.

"Santa Maria Novella Florence." Santa Maria Novella Florence. Adrian Fletcher, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

"Renaissance Architecture." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

"CsuriVision » Blog Archive » TACTILE-KINESTHESIS." CsuriVision. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

"Chuck Csuri." - GenerativeArt. Generative Art, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

"Techmusic-pump." : Electronic Music Wallpapers 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

Blog 1

Ever since I made the decision to come to UCLA, I find myself having to continuously answer the same question; “What are you majoring in?”. Regrettably, months later I am still far from deciding. My whole life I’ve been asked if I am a math and science person or an english and arts person; yet another question I am still far from discovering the answer to. I have always been decent at everything, and thus, have struggled to find a single subject I am truly passionate about. I’m hoping sometime soon, I’ll uncover one field that motivates me to excel. That is what drew me to take this class, and made this first week’s information extremely relevant to my life and my quest in finding the right major for me.

After our first week of classes, I’ve realized that maybe I don’t have to conform to the black and white ways of modern education. I may instead, find a major in a shade of grey that suits who I am and what I’ve been searching for. In Lecture part III, the picture below was shown depicting the extreme separation of science and art shown in the architecture of the UCLA campus. This extreme separation represents the flaws of modern education) and I feel a personal connection as it relates back to my ongoing struggle in finding a major. In these moments, I can’t help but agree with C.P. Snow when he said, “I believe the intellectual life of the whole of western society is increasingly being split into two polar groups”.  The lack of collaboration between these groups of people is limiting our nation from developing in ways far beyond what we ever imagined possible. As depicted in the third picture below, a world of opportunity comes to light once we access the knowledge and intellect of two groups together. Slowly but surely this collaboration is beginning to take place. People like Hans Ulrich Obrist, a curator and co-director of the Serpentine Gallery in London's Kensington Gardens, are unifying the two and initiating such collaborations. Below is a picture of him and his sculpture that incorporates both science and art.

CITATION

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

Miller, John. "The Art and Science of Content Creation." The Art and Science of Content Creation. Scribewise, 13 May 2013. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.

"Home." Two Cultures. Elegant Themes, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013

"TwoCultures Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 31 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.

Graham-Rowe, Duncan. "John Brockman: Matchmaking with Science and Art." John Brockman: Matchmaking with Science and Art 3 Feb. 2011: n. pag. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.