Medicine + Technology + Art

It can be difficult for your average human to find a connection between medicine, technology, and art, but after viewing this week's assignment, I can now see the connection. There are so many different things that connect the three, and understanding this can give you a whole different view on the subject matter. The first thing that struck me when thinking about art and medicine was the anatomy of the human body. Although it may not seem like art, the human body is a complex system with various different things occurring. In essence, the human body is art. Without artists like Andreas Vesalius, who was one of the first to accurately depict the structure of a human body, we would not be able to see the body and explain what is going on with it as easily. If you think about it, even skeletons are art forms, as they are designed and used to help the world understand the body. 

 Furthermore, medicine can be seen as an art form, as it can transform the human body and give a person their desired appearance. For example, a teenage boy dealing with bad acne can get on a prescription known as "Accutane," and within a year or so, he will never have to worry about acne again. Because of our technological advancements in medicine, one can be completely transformed. Plastic surgery is one type of procedure that can be seen as art. A person can be upset about their appearance one day, and the next day they can undergo surgery and have a completely different look. 

Finally, another art linked with medicine and technology is braille. Braille is a vital tool in our modern world, necessary for those with blindness. One can run their fingers across dots, and form words based off of that. It is a jaw-dropping concept that is a huge advancement in our world. It gives us a way to communicate with those dealing with blindness without using our voice. So many different things connect medicine, technology, and art, and these are just a few of the many examples.

Sources: 

"Vesalius - Pages 3 and 4." Virtual Books: Images Only. British Library, 1543. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/vesalius/accessible/pages3and4.html#content

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>.

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>.

"The National Museum of Health and Medicine." Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

"Visual Art for the Visually Impaired by Roy Nachum." Yatzer.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

Cotter, Holland. "Artist’s Life: Cut, Nip and Tuck." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Apr. 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

Art and Robotics

Robotics are very prevalent in our modern world, as we come across robots on a daily basis. With our advancements in technology, we have gone from having nearly no robots, to having robots at our expense whenever we feel. They can provide moral support, help us find a destination, and even do google searches for us. It is truly remarkable how much we have developed technologically, and it is baffling to think about what the future has to hold. After reading the several sources, it makes me wonder how much more we can possibly develop. The most prevalent example of robots in our daily lives are smart phones. Robots such as Siri can do anything almost anything you could imagine a phone doing. Siri can respond to our questions, and even have a conversation with us because of the way Apple programmed her. 

 But do all of these advancements take away from our creativity? Do we begin to rely on robots too much? Benjamin Walker makes me think about this. Machines seem to be taking away the need for humans to continue to be specialized. It seems as if there are machines for everything. There are even cars made by Google that can drive themselves. Soon enough humans will be able to get to work and back without even watching the road. We are so reliant on robots that we are actually turning into robots. It is taking away from the need to work hard, as well as the need to be creative. 

An exaggerated example of this in a movie is iRobot. Robots begin as maids and other tools for humans to use, and soon enough they are taking over our world. Although this may never happen, it is very symbolic of what our world is turning into. We may start to become the robots, and the robots may begin to take over. 

Sources:
"I, Robot." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Www.marxists.org. 1 Feb. 2005. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
"Self-Driving Car Test: Steve Mahan - Google Careers." Self-Driving Car Test: Steve Mahan - Google Careers. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
"Secret Siri Commands: Twelve Cool Questions You Can Ask Right Now!"IMore. N.p., 24 Jan. 2015. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

Math and Art

I had never looked at the link between art and science before this week, but after learning about the two, it is clear that they have a connection. All connections originate from nature. Much of the linkage has to do with perspective. One example of this, pointed out by Marc Frantz, is the idea of vanishing point. An explanation is provided, and it is explained as, “if two or more lines in the real world are parallel to one another, but not parallel to the picture plane, then they have the same vanishing point” (Frantz). He also explains further and says that the perspective of these images will not be parallel.

Another man who implemented math into art was Maurits Escher. M.C. Escher has a more mind-blowing type of art, as he gives the observer a more crafty style of art. His use of different shapes and perspectives really provides the artist with a different experience. His work was admired by many artists, and he inspired loads of other artists to implement mathematical themes into their art. As well as learning about Escher’s work, I was introduced to the idea of fractals. Fractals are patterns that recur at different scales. Fractals are extremely helpful in modeling structures, as well as many other artistic realms. Finally, they also help in describing different phenomena, such as crystal growth, fluid turbulence, and galaxy formation.

References:

"What Are Fractals?" FractalFoundationorg RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

"The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher." The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

Paralle. Lesson 3: Vanishing Points and Looking at Art (n.d.): n. pag. Web.

"ART+COM Studios." ART+COM Studios Front Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

Week 1

Everyone's lives have been influenced by multiple cultures whether they know it or not. Some believe they are not, but in the end they really are. The artists describe the gap between two cultures as groups that are separated by interests in linguistics and interests in science. The two ultimately have a bridge that link them together in some aspect. I experience this on a daily basis. Although I am undeclared, I will definitely be a north campus major, which has to do with interests in linguistics. But just because I will have a north campus major does not mean I am not effected by the south campus lifestyle. Because many of the south campus classes relate to my life, I have taken some classes in order to know more about my body and it's functions.

Furthermore, growing up in an Italian family, I have definitely seen two different cultures relate to my life. My Italian roots and traditions tend to be much different from those of my friends who are not Italian. I have learned that it is good to understand multiple cultures, as it makes me a more well-rounded man.

Seeing the perspectives of artists have really made me think about how much my life is effected by two cultures. It makes me much more understanding of different lifestyles, and helps me realize that although we may have different interests, everyone can relate to each other in one way or another. As a student, I can be more open to different cultures, and see how they can positively effect my life.

Sources
Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.
Snow, C.P. The Two Cultures: And a Second Look. N.p.: n.p., 1963. Print.
"Leaning Tower of Pisa | Tower, Pisa, Italy." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015.
"Italy Flag - All about Italy Flag - Colors, Meaning, Information & History."Italy Flag - All about Italy Flag - Colors, Meaning, Information & History. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015.
"University of California, Los Angeles." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015.