Week 4 - Medicine and Art

With the progression of the quarter I have become more and more interested in the connection between topics covered. This week, for example, I find extremely fascinating because I never would have anticipated there being a link between medicine and art. The structure of the human body is explored in each of the two fields, medicine and art, and explore the boundaries to which we can can consider human anatomy an artistic approach. The interest began during the time of the renaissance when Vesalii expressed deep fascination in human anatomy. A prime example of an art form in the world of science is an MRI. Exploration of the human body has reached new levels as we can now view humans like we never have before. The artistic idea behind an MRI is that what is being seen can be interpreted and human discretion may be applied. 

Although art seems like it would be more dangerous than medicine, they hold equal risk and danger. As stated in lecture, humans are riding a fine line of human exploration in regard to scientific and artistic practice. Orlan is a prime example of a girl who went through a number of procedures to try and make herself look beautiful. A more recent example would be that of Bruce Jenner expressing himself as a transgender. 

Another intersection between medicine and art is ultrasound. Ultrasound is an incredible scientific practice and also an amazing form of art. Witnessing the beauty of an organism that has yet to see the world is incredible scientifically and artistically. Modern technology allowing medicinal practices to perform artistic acts such as these is a remarkable phenomenon. 

Sources:

1) Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations Between Science and Arts.” (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

2) Orlan – Carnal Art (2001) Documentary. Dir. Stéphan Oriach. Perf. Orlan. N.d. Film. YouTube. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. 

3)Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/Ep0M2bOM9Tk.” Lecture. Medicine pt1 . Youtube, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.

4) Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/psjnQarHOqQ.” Lecture. Medicine pt2 . Youtube, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ>.

5) Wong, Virgil. “Art Exhibited in Galleries and Museums around the World.” Art. N.p., 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://virgilwong.com/art/>.

Unit 3 - Robotics and Art

The relationship between art and technology had never crossed my mind prior to this weeks lecture. Connecting human interaction and mechanics has impacted society substantially on many different levels. Various forms of mechanization, robotics, and mass production are known to have impacted art, but I was not fully aware of the extent prior to going over the course’s lecture. Learning about Ford’s assembly line and the printing press brought to light the important of mass production. Mass production and industrialization offer a wide variety of art forms to be created and, ultimately, replicated or duplicated. As Douglas Davis states, “there is no longer a clear conceptual distinction between original and reproduction”. I agree with Davis’ idea of the line thinning between the distinction of originality and replication due to this new age of mass production. Original and unique forms of art become more and more rare as time progresses during this time of mass production and industrialization. Benjamin describes this developmental phenomenon as a “relentless destruction of the aura” and only destroys the “uniqueness, authenticity, [and] ritual” of original art [3]. While some technology has ruined the originality of art, other technologies have allowed humans to bridge their creative ability to a new platform of innovative art.

There are many ways in which the connection of art and technology are portrayed. Film, writers, and directors often times use mass mechanical production throughout their films. For example, the movie iRobot portrays a society in which humanity is rivaling technological advances that are rapidly altering the way life is lived. The production of mechanical humans on a mass scale is changing the way original human life is viewed. In addition, 3 dimensional forms of creating films is a way technology has interacted with art. As technology has rapidly expanded, new forms of art and expression allow art to be shown in new ways.

When thinking about robotics I think strictly about forms mechanical production and fail to consider what creative opportunity it presents. Robotics have the ability to alter certain characteristics are portrayed in films such as how technology and art interact. Attending Coachella last weekend, I noticed the lights and animations that have come to create an experience that was not provided decades ago. Advances in technology have affected so many ways in which our world is lived today.

Citations

"Alesso at Coachella Valley Music Festival 2015 Laser Show Sahara Tent." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 1936. Print.

Davis, Douglas. “The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction.” The MIT Press, 1995. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. 

"iRobot." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Unit 1 - Two Cultures

Charles Percy Snow's argument concerning "two cultures" argues that society is divided into science or art. I am in agreement with RSA Animate which claims that schools strengthen this idea.

Arriving at UCLA, one of the first distinctions made when touring the school is north campus and south campus. Math and science are on the south end of campus while humanities and arts are on north campus. As a geography major, I can say I've only been on south campus a handful of times and I'm sure many south campus majors say the same about visiting north campus. UCLA often times promotes contests between north and south campus, creating a sense of pride for each side of campus.

In my opinion, this creates an unhealthy learning environment where collaboration and collectivization of knowledge is not properly supported. Unifying as an institution to create a powerful hub of learning is what should be practiced, not separating or dividing. 

Generalizations are often times made about north and south campus. South campus majors think north campus is far easier than their end of campus. I disagree with this claim because everyone has their own preference to learning and excel at learning different topics. One of the reasons I took this class was to broaden my horizon and utilize the ability to explore new topics that interest me. Having the luxury to dive into a completely unexplored area of knowledge is a beautiful thing. In order for an educational institution to do well we must collaborate to mix our modes of learning and create a pool of knowledge that is accessible to all. 

Citations: 

1. Fifty years on, CP Snow's 'Two Cultures' are united in desperation (The Telegraph)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/5273453/Fifty-years-on-CP-Snows-Two-Cultures-are-united-in-desperation.html 

2. Festivals of Science and the Two Cultures: Science, Design and Display in the Festival of Britain, 1951. Sophie Forgan, The British Journal for the History of Science Vol. 31, No. 2, Science and the Visual (Jun., 1998), pp. 217-240

http://www.jstor.org/stable/4027763 

3. RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

4. Separation Image 

http://www.rob.ox.ac.uk/radiatingoncology/all-about-cancer/what-does-it-take-to-make-cancer-a-killer/ignoring-messages-to-stop-dividing

5. North South 

http://www.toimg.net/managed/images/10029499/w200/h160/image.jpg

6. Split up Pic

http://howardnightingale.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/separation_divorce.jpg