Medicine + Technology + Art

In this week's lectures, a major topic that was discussed is how medicine is a form of art.  This is an interesting concept that makes sense in many phases such as X Rays, MRI's, and CAT scans.  All three of these art forms use radiation to produce pictures in order for doctors and medical specialists to diagnose patients.  It was interesting that throughout history medicine had only been seen as a form of art and that if a person used tools or instruments they were considered artists, and in this case the body was the canvas.

Another very interesting display of art is the Body Worlds Exhibit, which is an example of both art and medicine.  This display allows for the average person to gain a better understanding of the human body, both male and female.  They also show the bodies in action with a sports themed exhibit which is amazing as well.  Gunther von Hagens used a method called plastination to reveal inner anatomical structures.



The Hippocratic Oath is an oath that is agreed upon by all doctors that they will perform their duties to the best of their abilities, and in this oath it specifically states that, "I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science..."  This is important to understand and remember that there is an importance placed in art when performing science.  When using tools in surgery a doctor is creating a masterpiece, one that is carefully crafted, just as an artist painting a picture, or creating a statue.

Sources:
Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath Today."  NOVA.  March 27, 2001. October 27, 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html>

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine." YouTube. Lecture. April 21, 2012. October 27, 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>

Gromala, Diane. "American Rivera" TedxTalks. YouTube. Dec 7, 2011. October 27, 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdarMz--Pw>

"Orlan Carnal Art Documentary" YouTube. March 13, 2011. October 27, 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no_66MGu0Oo#t=25>

Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts"

Robotics + Art

The development of industrialization is an important aspect to science, and although Johannes Gutenberg did not really invent the printing press, when he brought it to Europe in 1439, he began a revolution.  The Renaissance was an important time in the advancement of art in science, as scientific exploration took the form of mass production for the first time in history.  This mass production was used by Henry Ford as he perfected the first assembly line allowing the price of cars to go down.

Walter Benjamin provides the concept of how there is not only science in art, but there is art in science as well.  The process in which an assembly line is run, or a printing press produces literature can be seen as an artistic process, one that is both creative and replicated.  The "aura" that he mentions is one of a mechanical reproduction that creates an aura about a work of art. 



In the movie "I, Robot" with Will Smith, society turns to the mass production of robots in order to make their lives easier, however the robots develop minds of their own and attempt to take over the world.  This movie takes place in the future, and with the development of movies like this, science has wondered if this life with robots is really possible.  Society has benefited greatly from industrialization in the past and we need to be careful with how far we go in experimenting with different technologies, as we try to avoid the hypothetical robot take over of the world.

Sources:
Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" 1936.

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Part 3" Lecture. April 16, 2012. October 20, 2013.

Brooks, Rodney. "Robots Will Invade Our Lives" September 2008. TedTalks. Oct 20, 2013.

"Dirk: The Homeless Robot" YouTube. Sep 7, 2008. Oct 20, 2013.

 "Robotics MachikoKusahara" YouTube. April 14, 2012. Oct 20, 2013.

Math + Science

Before this lecture, I did not know the profound affect that mathematics had on art.  Most art, if not all, is somehow based on mathematical formulas or dimensions.  The most important theme that I took away from this unit was that in art perspective is everything, and in order to have perspective you must have math.  Growing up I did not apply myself to art because I could not draw, however I did enjoy math.  Had I known the prominent use of math in art, it may have had a larger effect on my life.

When I had to choose a piece of art that best expressed what I learned in this unit, I had to pick from one of the most influential artists of all time, Leonardo Da Vinci.  In his Virtruvian Man he uses perfect ratios based on the human body in order to explain perspective and dimensions for artists.  Artists use a mathematical principle in order to convey their artwork in such a manner that is aesthetically pleasing. 

Another interesting aspect of math in art is the golden ratio that has been used for centuries by artists in their work.  This golden ratio can be found in profound artwork such as the Parthenon in Greece and in the Mona Lisa.  These ratios are important, and are based on mathematical formulas, in order for artists to create perspective within their art.  The pyramids of Giza also have these essential principles, that have been used for many years.  Brunelleschi was the first artist to use linear perspective and create paintings with realistic depth.  The juxtaposition of art, science, and mathematics is one that is very close knit.  Although they seem to be very different, in reality you cannot have one without the other two.  Math, science, and art are everywhere and without the proper use of one in the other they lack a certain purpose and expression.

Sources

Vesna, Victoria. "Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectivesGoldenMean" Lecture. 10-13-2013.

 

"Fibonacci, Fractals and Financial Markets" Socionomics.net. YouTube. 5-31-2007. 10-13-2013.

 

Ruska, Jimmy. "Golden Ratio- The Perfect Face & Change the Sex of People" YouTube. 7-23-2007. 10-13-2013.

Escher, M.C. "The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher" 1997. 10-13-2013. <http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/minitext/escher/>

 

Abbott, Edwin. Flatland "Of the Nature of Flatland" 1884. 10-13-2013. <http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/eaa/F01.HTM>

Two Cultures

The concept of separating art and science is something that I view as normal, because that is the way that it has always been.  My first experience of this separation was in Middle School where we had to go to different classrooms for different subjects.  This concept was new to me because in Elementary school, where I think kids obtain the purest form of knowledge, everything was blended together. In my immediate world that I live in now, I see that most my learning is becoming more and more specialized, where I have to choose what I want to learn.  To be honest I enjoy science more than art, but I do not think that I gave art a fair chance due to a stronger emphasis in science from my teachers growing up.  At UCLA we do not even give art and science people a chance to meet as they are in different buildings at different parts of campus.  The North vs South Rivalry is more than a location on campus, it is a restraint on the learning of students.

The video that I felt was the most entertaining was the one about changing education paradigms.  I related with this concept as he made many interesting points that are very true.  The fact that we are in a system that no longer works, and that we should not be dulling kids, but allowing them to grow.
 

C.P. Snow thought there were two cultures, those who studied science and those who studied literary achievements. He also felt that this related directly to the gap between the rich and the poor.  When thinking about the perspectives of these authors it allows me to realize that I need to expand my knowledge and open my mind up to different styles of learning.  I am very excited to begin this quest for knowledge. 

Sources:

RSA Animate. "Changing Educational Paradigms" YouTube. Oct 14, 2010. Oct 6, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

Vesna, Victoria. "TwoCultures Part 1" YouTube. March 30, 2012. Oct 6, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNI7dF3DIAM

Snow, C.P. "Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution" The Rede Lecture, 1959. Cambridge University Press, New York.

Vesna, Victoria. Leonardo. "Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between" JStor, 2001. http://links.jstor/sici?sici=0024-094X%282001%2934%3A2%3C121%3ATATCBI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-3

Pinker, Steven. "Two Cultures" Seedmagazine.com YouTube, May, 18 2010. Oct 6, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BUbVc7qVpg