Sunday, May 29, 2016

WEEK 9: SPACE + ART

Since growing up, I’ve always been fascinated by astronomy and space. I always enjoyed drawing or painting planets, stars, or even galaxies. I believe studying astronomy and quantum physics is a sort of religion, in which certain people use these sciences to make sense of their realities and fuel their imaginations.


(http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/meet-the-father-of-modern-space-art)

For example, this lecture and assignment motivated to seek out specifically artists and astronomers and I came across the International Association of Astronomical Artists, who believe that “Space Art” is “is the genre of modern artistic expression emerging from knowledge and ideas associated with outer space, both as a source of inspiration and as a means for visualizing and promoting space travel.” Here is a photo of Titan’s surface by one of the contributing artists below.


(http://iaaa.org/gallery-iaaa/)


Artists have paved the way for humans to visualize how space and the universe looks like. Our space explorations caused a paradigm shift in human possibilities of exploration and immensely heightened our curiosities. Author Leonard Shlain argues, “Art interprets the visible world. Physics charts its unseen workings. The two realms seem completely opposed. But consider that both strive to reveal truths for which there are no words––with physicists using the language of mathematics and artists using visual images.”


  (http://hubpages.com/art/How-to-do-Spray-Paint-Art)

 Copernicus paved the way for either artist, mathematician, or scientist, to comprehend what lies beyond our physical space and planet. As our lectured showed, his influence still hangs over all of these disciplines and society to this day. All of his discoveries were translated in many ways and required artists to bring these ideas alive. For example, Jonathan Keats made an installation of "Copernican art" which shows a sculpture of hydrogen in front of beige canvases representing the universe.
 (http://www.space.com/14701-keats-copernican-art-manifesto.html)

 I believe that "Space art" is a perfect example of how both parts of our brains used simultaneously   over time has helped society and innovate our possibilities of human intelligence. These lectures and the research made by these ideas on this assignment reinstate my beliefs of its potential to expand. 


 Citations

Uconlineprogram. "8 Space Pt1 1280x720." YouTube. YouTube, 29 July 2013. Web. 29 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=127&v=6ZIqTR332l8>.

"What Is Space Art?" International Association of Astronomical Artists. N.p., 11 Mar. 2016. Web. 29 May 2016. <http://iaaa.org/what-is-space-art/>.

"Cool Cosmos." Cool Cosmos. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2016. <http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/ask_astronomer/getting_involved/>.

"Meet the Father of Modern Space Art." Atlas Obscura. N.p., 27 May 2016. Web. 30 May 2016. <http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/meet-the-father-of-modern-space-art>.


Shlain, Leonard. Art & Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time, and Light. New York: Morrow, 1991. Web. <https://books.google.com/books?id=vPYJVfTudNoC&dq=space+art&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGgtDsgIHNAhUH7GMKHaxTAOc4ChDoAQhfMAk>.

"Nicolaus Copernicus Biography: Facts and Discoveries." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2016. <http://www.space.com/15684-nicolaus-copernicus.html>.

"Artist Pushes for 'Copernican Revolution' in the Arts." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2016. <http://www.space.com/14701-keats-copernican-art-manifesto.html>.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Week 8: NANOTECH + ART

NanoTech is a field of science that I had no idea existed until now. I was familiar of the measure of atoms using nano units from studying Physics. Seeing how much art has been made using nanotechnology is fascinating but not shocking to me; I’m inspired by seeing things up close. I’ve read a few books written by Stephen Hawking and he mentions Richard Feynman throughout most of his books.

I think most people are curious to see things that are far away or far from reach, up close. Perhaps this is the reason why camera companies are constantly improving their product’s capacity for more megapixels. Each megapixel is composed of exactly one milion pixels in an image, being sort of a measurement similar to macro, micro, and nano but in different dimensions.

(http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3116.htm)

After watching Dr. Gimzewski’s lectures, I wanted to delve more into the artistic innovations that have been created and influenced by NanoTech. Artist Cris Orfescu, who works at, makes artistic images by using Titanium-Carbon bond compounds and then using synthetic coloring. This image is called “Black Eye NanoOctopus” and was printed onto a canvas.  
 (http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/01/17/technology/20080117_NANOART_SLIDESHOW_index.html?version=meter+at+2&module=meter-Links&pgtype=Blogs&contentId=&mediaId=&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click) 

PBS showcased a few works submitted in the Materials Research Society’s “Science as Art” competition. Below is an image of a flower only two micrometers long. In this way, I think nanotechnology reinforces the idea of repetition in matter and energy, showing that things we don’t necessarily see with the naked eye still exist, and even in familiarized forms.
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/art-nanotech.html)

Finally, I am curious about how much nanotechnology has shaped philosophers and authors in their views of society and the masses. The idea that we can take things a part at such levels, will allow us to see the world and even society much differently. As even in politics or economics, addressing issues at just the surface level will ignore much at the bottom. I believe those who understand the potential in using nanotechnology will allow people to create and innovate different technologies, products, or medicines, but also ideologies. 

As said by Axel Gelfert in the Sage Journal, "The emergence, allure, and implications of nanotechnology, it is argued, can only be fully appreciated if one looks beyond its immediate technical and scientific payoffs to its infrastructural and ideological aspects."


Lilley, Maiken. "The Art of Nanotech." PBS. PBS, 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 23 May 2016. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/art-nanotech.html>.

Feder, Barnaby J. "The Art of Nanotech." Bits The Art of Nanotech Comments. New York Times, n.d. Web. 25 Jan 2008. <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-art-of-nanotech/?_r=0>.


"Do More Megapixels Mean Better Photo Quality?" :: Digital Photo Secrets. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016. <http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/333/do-more-megapixels-mean-better-photo-quality/>.

Hawking, Stephen, and Leonard Mlodinow. The Grand Design. New York: Bantam, 2010. N. pag. Print.

Gelfert, Axel. "Nanotechnology as Ideology: Towards a Critical Theory of ‘Converging Technologies’." 17.1 (2012): 143-64. Sage Journals. Web. <http://sts.sagepub.com/content/17/1/143.short#cited-by>.

Uconlineprogram. "Nanotech Jim Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. 23 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE>.






Sunday, May 15, 2016

WEEK 7: NEUROSCIENCE + ART

I found this week’s material fascinating and inspirational. For my midterm project, I created a hypothetical microchip that could help some of the psychological disorders discussed in the LSD studies, such as alcoholism, schizophrenia, and criminal behaviors.


LSD has always been interesting debate for me. I have researched the effects of LSD in other courses and have always concluded it was generally not as harmful as its label describes and not as destructive as other drugs are like Cocaine.

Lots of artists have used LSD in their creative processes and have made huge discoveries of their potential while using the drug. This artist, with an unknown name, drew a series of portraits while taking LSD. The first image is 15 minutes after taking it, the second is after about 2 hours, and the last image was about 9 hours.


(https://ihgritch.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/lsd/)

(http://www.boredpanda.com/lsd-portrait-drawings-girl/?image_id=lsd-portrait-drawings-girl-3.jpg&gallery=0)

Marlene Dobkin De Rios writes in her book referenced below, about how LSD influences the imagination and the creative process using clinical research of Dr. Janiger. They claimed that LSD had a solid connection with spirituality. Other authors like Glen Hanson, who wrote Drugs and Society, have done experiments and showed adverse effects but most of the artists they gave the drug to, admitted to it making them more insightful.

Lots of the music I listen to like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Doors, were all musical ensembles that used LSD and used cryptic lyrics in their music to describe the experiences they had.


(http://www.guitarworld.com/guide-recording-equipment-and-instruments-featured-beatles-sgt-peppers-lonely-hearts-club-band)

This lecture allowed me to revisit my preconceived notions about neurology, as well as opening my mind to some of the fundamentals of neuroscience as mentioned in the first lecture.


Citations 

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience pt.3" N.p., 16 May 2012. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=927&v=E5EX75xoBJ0>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience pt.1." N.p., 16 May 2012. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=927&v=E5EX75xoBJ0>.


Dobkin De Rios, Marlene. LSD, Spirituality, and the Creative Process: Based on the Groundbreaking Research of Oscar Janiger, M.D. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. <https://books.google.com/books?id=BSLGKvZpe8QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=artists+and+lsd+use&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivt8GF6N3MAhVT2GMKHakAAWkQ6AEIIzAB#v=onepage&q=artists%20and%20lsd%20use&f=false>.

LeVert, Suzanne. The Facts about LSD. Tarrytown, NY: Benchmark, 2005. Web. <https://books.google.com/books?id=FIcgNT8gnTYC&pg=PA10&dq=artists+and+lsd+use&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivt8GF6N3MAhVT2GMKHakAAWkQ6AEIKjAC#v=onepage&q=artists%20and%20lsd%20use&f=false>.


Hanson, Glen R. Drugs and Society N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. <https://books.google.com/books?id=CYVnE2grkusC&pg=PA362&dq=artists+and+lsd+use&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivt8GF6N3MAhVT2GMKHakAAWkQ6AEIRzAH#v=onepage&q=artists%20and%20lsd%20use&f=false>.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

WEEK 6: BIOTECH + ART


(http://cargocollective.com/edkwong/Mad-Monsanto-Monster)

Before this week, I was not aware of how much art occurs in the biotech world and I am extremely fascinated and also a bit morally challenged. I always felt that genetic modification that is used to produce wide scale profit, like Monsanto’s products, override the benefits that these experiments offer. I am also fearful of recycled hegemonic genetics to change natural culture. 

(https://zachheather.wikispaces.com/Social+Darwinism+and+Poverty)
I was always bothered by the implications that genetic modification may have on the claims made by Social Darwinism, and how genetic cleansing may facilitate the production of organisms without “undesired genes” as George Gessert used in his experimentations with the Iris flowers. The idea that a set of genes may determine the success of an organism in an environment would ultimately create the option for people to use historical biases in justification of modifying genes.


However, I do believe that humans should have ultimate creative freedom. I guess we could only hope that there are more progressive consequences than destructive ones. I thought Alba the glowing bunny was really interesting and suggestive of medical advancements under careful and ethical standards. It amazes me how much we are capable of doing at this early point of our technological era. Just recently, scientists grew a human embryo in a lab for two weeks. The immediate question is what kind of genes was used in that embryo’s DNA.  

 (http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/new-google-device-injected-into-eyeball-160429.htm)

At the same time, I agree that further delving into biotech would bring advances in medicine. For example, Google proposes an injected eye mechanism that would essentially make a computerized “eye” but also helps people with issues that affect vision.

 I'm inclined to follow the progression of biotech and art for the years to come and take one of the lessons of this topic away that 'anything is possible' and use it for my future creations.






Dickens, Peter. Social Darwinism: Linking Evolutionary Thought to Social Theory. Buckingham: Open UP, 2000. Web. <https://books.google.com/books?id=kCe5AAAAIAAJ&q=social+darwinism&dq=social+darwinism&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwienqHamszMAhVJ6WMKHSk-AgcQ6AEIPjAG>.

"Human Embryo Grown in Lab : DNews." DNews. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. <http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/human-embryo-grown-in-lab-160505.htm>.

Uconlineprogram. "5 BioArt Pt5." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 09 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&v=3EpD3np1S2g>.

"New Google Device Injected Into Eyeball : DNews." DNews. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. <http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/new-google-device-injected-into-eyeball-160429.htm>.


"Products." Biotechnology. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2016. <http://www.monsanto.com/products/pages/biotechnology.aspx>.