MedTech + Art Week 4 Blog

In this week's lecture, Victoria Vesna strengthened my knowledge on the rapid modernization of technology; and how it has allowed us to depict the anatomy of the human body, in a non-invasive way.  As an athlete, MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays have been crucial in diagnosing my several injuries over the years. One specific time I remember was when I was playing tennis and fell on my ankle. I immediately went to the doctor to see what had happened, but they ran no imaging tests and said my ankle was excellent and in perfect condition. It wasn't until three months later when I still had excruciating pain that they decided to run an X-ray test. In result, the image illustrated that I had not one, but three fractures throughout my ankle.

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/ankle-fractures-broken-ankle/

Without the development of noninvasive imaging programs, there would have been no way to diagnose my severely injured ankle without actually cutting it open. I believe that advancements in medical technology has also created a massive promotion in art. For example, Casini mentions in his medical paper that MRI and imaging scans can be considered almost like a "portrait of an individual." This proves that medicine and art go hand-in-hand while presenting results from imaging scans.

https://dissolve.com/stock-photo/Doctor-using-ray-machine-examine-patient-royalty-free-image/101-D23-21-054

However, I believe there can be a fine line between the correlation of art and medicine. Living in the heart of Los Angeles, plastic surgery is a common thing you see amongst the population. As I learned in Lecture Part 3, Orlan was an artist who endured nine different surgeries to attempt to embody the vision of "beauty" created by renowned painters throughout history. Another example of this is Michael Jackson. He underwent an abundance amount of surgeries in an attempt to make himself "look better." Even though these are examples of art in medicine, I believe that these operations go past the point of art and limit an individual's natural beauty and uniqueness. 

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4816435/ns/health-cosmetic_surgery/t/artists-plastic-surgeries-defy-beauty-standards/

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebrity-plastic-surgery-disasters/5/

                                                                          Sources:

Online, UC. “Medicine pt2.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ.

Online, UC. “Medicine pt3.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=450&v=FIX-9mXd3Y4.

MutleeIsTheAntiGod. “Orlan - Carnal Art (2001) Documentary.” YouTube, YouTube, 13 Mar. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=no_66MGu0Oo.

Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations Between Science and Arts.” (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 28 Apr. 2019.

“Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle) - OrthoInfo - AAOS.” OrthoInfo, orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/ankle-fractures-broken-ankle/.

Event One: California Science Center

Today, I visited the California Science Center. It was an exciting experience for me because I have never been to a science museum before. The exhibits that I saw helped me understand the topics and ideas we have been learning in class thus far. One display that stood out to me was the Simulator Ride. The simulator ride creates virtual reality and generates test conditions approximating actual or operational requirements. This particular simulation ride took you on a high-intensity, fast-paced, vivid adventure throughout the solar system. It relates closest to what we learned in week one and shows a secure connection between science and art.

As I boarded the "spaceship," I honestly had no idea what to expect. Shortly after I fastened my seatbelt, detailed graphics of the solar system came up on the screen joined with loud sounds and swift motions to replicate a real-life space takeoff would be like. The simulator fools your brain by enclosing you in the capsule, so you can only receive images and sounds that support the illusion. A simulator is a complex machine that is made up of several different parts that work in unison, all controlled by a state-of-the-art computer. Not only did the simulation give me a life-like spacecraft takeoff experience, but it made me realize how much art, science, and technology had to collaborate to produce this "virtual reality." In fact, NASA uses these simulators to prepare astronauts to live and work in outer space, and also to teach pilots to fly new aircrafts.

I think that this exhibit and experience was very beneficial in furthering my knowledge of the connection between arts, science, and technology. Seeing topics that we learned about in week one's lecture in real life gave me an even better understanding of the impact that art places in science and vice versa. So if you get a chance, I highly recommend visiting the California Science Museum!

Robotics + Art Week 3 Blog

https://science.howstuffworks.com/10-evil-robots1.htm

In this week’s lecture, Victoria Vesna points out several ways that art has influenced industrialization and the creation of robots. As I learned in the Robotics pt 2 lecture, the first time a “robot” was mentioned was in “Rossum’s Universal Robots” (R.U.R) by Karel Capek, a theatrical play created in 1921. Capek invented the term “robot” which came from the word “robota” which means “work” in the Czech language. If not for his inventiveness, scientists may have never invested their efforts in the development of cyborgs as they do today. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuU0kC1nHPd/

Since the creation of the word “robot” in 1921, the progression of these machines and artificial intelligence has advanced tremendously quick. A prime example of the influence of art in robotics is the creation of “Lil Miquela,” an artificial person who was generated with digital renderings to make her composition look exactly like a real woman. Lil Miquela became an Instagram “influencer” sensation nearly overnight, reaching 1.5 million followers and signing advertising campaigns with substantial brand names like Ugg boots and Prada. Not only was she artistically created, but she also possesses a lot of artistic abilities of her own. Miquela has released several hit singles that have reached over one million views on Spotify and AppleMusic. 






As for how mechanical reproduction affects art, Walter Benjamin, a literary critic, and philosopher has an interesting outlook on the subject. In his essay, "The Work of Art in Age of Mechanical Reproduction," Benjamin claims that there has been a loss of an "aura" in film and photography due to the mechanical reproduction of art itself. He believes that original art has lost its "aura" because a majority of the world's population experiences it through mass-production copies. To a certain extent, I agree with his claim. Originality is something you cannot compete with. On the other hand, I firmly believe that mass-production copies are beneficial in spreading art and film to people globally, especially in today's society. 

https://www.crcpress.com/Walter-Benjamins-The-Work-Of-Art-in-the-Age-of-Mechanical-Reproduction/Dini/p/book/9781912284757

Sources:

Online, UC. “Robotics pt2.” YouTube, YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=255&v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk.

Koh, Yoree, and Georgia Wells. “The Making of a Computer-Generated Influencer.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 13 Dec. 2018, www.wsj.com/articles/the-making-of-a-computer-generated-influencer-11544702401.

Kiger, Patrick J. “10 Evil Robots Bent on Destroying Humanity.” HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 8 Mar. 2018, science.howstuffworks.com/10-evil-robots1.htm.

“Walter Benjamin's The Work Of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” CRC Press, www.crcpress.com/Walter-Benjamins-The-Work-Of-Art-in-the-Age-of-Mechanical-Reproduction/Dini/p/book/9781912284757.

Online, UC. “Robotics pt1.” YouTube, YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=775&v=cRw9_v6w0ew.

“The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” (1936) Benjamin, Walter file:///Users/taylorjohnson/Downloads/BenjRepro%20(1).pdf

Math + Art Week 2 Blog

I have been fortunate enough to watch someone learn the principles of art and math first hand, which has given me insight about how math goes into the production of art. My sister graduated from The ArtCenter College of Design with distinction and honors; while achieving her master's degree in graphic and environmental design. Prior to talking to her about graphic and environmental design I simply thought that math had no involvement in the creation of graphic and four-dimension projects. Even though seeing her spend countless hours attempting to find the calculations to create her artistic vision and designing beyond the third dimension was extremely interesting to me, I still did not have a deep understanding on what the true meaning of the "fourth dimension" was.

Here is an example of an idea board she created filled with equations, thoughts, and connections:

 The article that particularly stood out to me in this week's readings was The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion by Linda Henderson. This article provided a vast amount of detail and history of how the "fourth dimension" evolved, which strengthened my understanding of the importance of not only of my sister's countless hours of calculations and pushing past the one-point perspective system, but every other artist who is seeking to reach fourth dimension art as well. Henderson states,"The belief in a fourth dimension encouraged artists to depart from visual reality and to reject completely the one-point perspective system that for centuries had portrayed the world as three-dimensional."

https://nathanselikoff.com/works/four-dimensions

After looking through several different pieces of art, the specific piece that caught my eye was Four Dimensions created by Marc Pinsky and composed by Keith Lay. Conceptually, this piece creates a journey through mathematical dimensions while incorporating music and visuals. I chose this piece because my sister has created several similar projects, and I have seen the work that goes into the production of it all. The creator, Marc Pinsky said,"We conceptualized the piece together as an imaginary exploration of the mathematical dimensions." This piece is a prime example of how mathematics goes into the production of beautiful art visuals.

https://www.goldennumber.net/art-composition-design/

The material that gave me the most insight on the juxtaposition of mathematics, science, and arts was found in Victoria Vesna's lecture video: Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean. Before viewing this lecture, I had never heard of the Golden Ratio. The Golden Ratio is a mathematical formula that creates a sense aesthetically pleasing divisions and proportions in artwork.
In the picture above, Leonardo Da Vinci uses the Golden Ratio to achieve balance and proportion in The Last Supper. If he hadn't of used the mathematical formula of the Golden Ratio, the piece would have turned out imbalanced and un-proportional.


Sources:
“Four Dimensions - Real-Time Audio-Visual Performance.” Nathan Selikoff, nathanselikoff.com/works/four-dimensions.

Online, UC. “Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov.” YouTube, YouTube, 9 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=mMmq5B1LKDg.

Meisner, Gary, et al. “Golden Ratio in Art Composition and Design.” The Golden Ratio: Phi, 1.618, 24 Sept. 2016, www.goldennumber.net/art-composition-design/.

Linda Dalrymple Henderson, "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion" Leonardo, Vol. 17, No. 3. (1984), pp. 205-210.

Week 1: Two Cultures

The existence of two cultures has a significant impact on the world and the society we live in today. CP Snow was the first to introduce this idea of two cultures in his 1959 lecture about literary intellectuals and natural science. Growing up a high-level tennis player, I can say with confidence that my forte was never in the literary intellectuals or scientific fields. I never realized how much the two cultures influenced an individual until I began seeing a sports psychologist in an attempt to enhance my mental skills and abilities.

Before starting this class, I have to admit I am guilty of “Contributing to the stereotypes that increase the division between the two cultures” as Victoria Vesna said in Two Cultures pt 2 video. I saw literary intellectuals and scientific fields as two completely different things, but once I started seeing a psychologist, I realized how significant of a role science and art play in the profession. Psychology has components of it that are strictly devoted to understanding the human brain through experimentation, but there is also a notable amount of judgement and intuition involved which makes it an art as well.

https://blog.admissions.ucla.edu/2012/05/17/an-interesting-approach-to-therapy/img_1476/

I believe psychology is a perfect example of a bridge that combines the two cultures together. In fact, UCLA's Franz Hall (the department of psychology) is commonly known as the middle ground between North Campus (arts and humanities) and South Campus (math and sciences.)

In 1963, Snow added a new essay, "Two Cultures: A Second Look" where he suggested that a third culture would emerge and close the gap between scientist and literary intellectuals. According to Kevin Kelly, This new third culture is "an offspring of science. It's a pop culture based in technology, for technology." In my opinion, this culture is going to be the most beneficial to me and my classmates at UCLA. Being millennials, we are growing up in an era where technology is excelling at a high-speed rate, which is creating endless opportunities for us to shape the future.

Sources:

Kelly, Kevin. “The Third Culture.” Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 13 Feb. 1998, science.sciencemag.org/content/279/5353/992.full.

Wong, Deborah. “The Inverted Fountain in Front of Franz Hall-Photo Credit: UCLA Undergraduate Admissions.” Your Insight into UCLA Admission, Campus Life, and Our Students!, 17 May 2012, blog.admissions.ucla.edu/2012/05/17/an-interesting-approach-to-therapy/img_1476/.

Online, UC. “TwoCultures pt2.” YouTube, YouTube, 31 Mar. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUr4xxZ_0gw.

Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo. 34 (2001): 121-125. Print.

Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. New York: Cambridge UP, 1959. Print.

taylorjDESMA9

This is my first blog post

Thought I would put a little introduction about myself on here!

My name is Taylor Johnson and I am a freshman at UCLA. I started in January so this is my second quarter! I am a tennis player on the UCLA women's tennis team and I am so excited to take this class!