Sunday, April 26, 2015

Event 1: LACMA




I arrived at the LA County Museum of Art with an open mind, eager to see what I would learn and experience on this Sunday afternoon. I attended the museum with my best friend, Jessy, and we walked to every exhibit and appreciated all that the art museum had to offer. Here is a photo of me at the Urban Lights sculpture, designed by Chris Burden. 


Our first stop and the featured exhibition that interested me the most was called “Haunted Screens: German Cinema in the 1920’s.” In this exhibit, I was able to see the connection between art and technology as we observed featured drawings, manuscripts, posters, and set models from German expressionist cinema. As described on the LACMA website, “Film is perhaps the most dominant art form of the last one hundred years” (LACMA Website). German expressionism refers to “a number of related creative moments beginning in Germany before the First World War that reached a peak in Berlin” (Wikipedia, German Expressionism). In this course, we have studied the connection between technology, medicine, robotics, and other things that converge with art, but to experience hands-on the connection between film and art was very interesting. We were even able to see clips of lost films of the expressionist era playing in the exhibit. Below is a photo called "M" by an unknown artist, and it is featured at LACMA in the Haunted Screens exhibit. 


I was also intrigued by the modern art exhibit. One artist that stood out to me was Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol pursued a career as a commercial artist and began to create paintings based on advertisement imagery, otherwise known as pop art. His works explore the relationship between artistic expression and advertisement that flourished in the 1960's. What I found to be most interesting was Warhol's incorporation of technology in his works of art. He used many types of media, including hand drawing, painting, print-making, photography, film, and music. These are all related to the topics and connections we have been studying in this course. A couple Andy Warhol's paintings are below:



Many of the paintings in the modern art exhibits were accompanied by an explanation of the artist's vision or meaning of the painting or sculpture. I believe that although the artist may have had a specific idea of the meanings of their paintings, every individual can create their own meaning and assign their own themes, depending on how they perceive a work of art. 


Sources and Links:

"Art + Film Initiative." Art + Film Initiative. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

"German Expressionism." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

"Haunted Screens: German Cinema in the 1920s." Haunted Screens: German Cinema in the 1920s. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

"Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987)." Andy Warhol Artworks – Andy Warhol on Artnet. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

Andy Warhol." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.


Photos:

Wieber, Jordyn M. Ticket Stub. 2015. LACMA, Los Angeles. Taken with iPhone

Wieber, Jordyn M. Urban Lights. 2015. LACMA, Los Angeles. Taken with iPhone

Wieber, Jordyn M. Andy Warhol Painting. 2015. LACMA, Los Angeles. Taken with iPhone

Unknown. "M" Digital image. Lacma.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. 

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

Beginning in the renaissance era, the first connection of art, medicine, and technology was seen as the first human dissection was performed. It was used in order to portray the human body in the most accurate way. Now, we see these portrayals of the human body in classrooms, doctor’s offices, and textbooks. There are many other places we can see these advanced portrayals. In the Lecture 1 video, Professor Vesna mentions Gunther von Hagens, German anatomist, who invented a technique for preserving biological tissue specimens called plastination. The preserved human figures are now seen in a popular exhibition called Body Worlds. As seen on the official website, the “primary goal of Body Worlds is health education. The exhibitions are targeted mainly at a lay audience to open up the opportunity to better understand the human body and its functions.” (bodyworlds.com



As we learned in Lecture video 3, another way that medicine and art converge to effect people’s lives is in the form of plastic surgery. In the present day, plastic surgery is viewed as a negative subject to many people. What most people don’t know is that plastic surgery originated with the use of skin graphs to reconstruct and fix injuries that were caused by weapons during WWI. In lecture video 2, professor Vesna stated, “Some of the best medical talents devoted themselves to restoring faces and lives during and after WWI and this meant huge advances in plastic surgery” (Vesna). Since this time period, there has been a shift in people’s perspectives on the topic. With growing technology and changes in society, plastic surgery has shifted from a necessary to a preference. In most cases, it is now used to increase personal appearance and looks in order to conform to society, which is the cause of the negative context it now encompasses. 


Grey’s Anatomy, one of my favorite shows, deals with many medical issues on screen for viewers to see and learn about. Not only can the show relate to the technology and use of videography and how it can be developed into a work of art in the form of a television show, but they also portray many situations that use advanced technology in the medical world. They show how advanced research, technology, and even plastic surgery can effect the lives of many patients. There are also many scenes of doctors performing actual surgeries, which many people view as an art form in itself.




Sources:

Mission of the Exhibitions." Body Worlds: The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine and Art: Part 1.” Lecture.. Youtube, 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ <%22>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine and Art: Part 2.” Lecture.. Youtube, 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ <%22>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine and Art: Part 3.” Lecture.. Youtube, 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ <%22>.

"Grey's Anatomy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.



Photos:

"Bad Taxidermy." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

"Plastic Surgery in Budapest- Cosmetic Surgery Clinics." Budapest By Locals. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

"GREY’S ANATOMY SEASON 10 EPISODE 6 “MAP OF YOU”." Hollywood Anesthesia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

"Piece of My Heart." Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Week 3: Robotics and Art

Although it may not seem like it, robotics and art are certainly correlated. As described in the intro lecture video, beginning with the industrialization of the U.S., technology began to rapidly advance and changed the lives of humans in society in many ways. Many people believe that the advancement of many new technologies and the shift of daily tasks and activities from manual to automatic processes has a negative impact on art. German author and cultural critic, Walter Benjamin, mentions a similar idea in his book titled The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Benjamin mentions that there is a shift in the perception of art as film and photography advance in the twentieth century. 



There is a shift in the way people perceive, create, and appreciate art as a result of the industrialization. For example, with the advancement of photography and cameras, we are able to use computers to mass-produce photos taken by a camera, which reduces the artistic value. Many people believe that even though cameras can create detailed pictures with a single click, it is still not a form of art. In Benjamin’s book, he comments that even the best work of reproduction lacks “presence in time and space” (218). 



Because of the shift in society and the advancement of technologies, many people’s imaginations are sparked and there is an immediate effect on several industries, including the film industry. Instead of great works of art and paintings, we now see art in the form of motion-picture movies, such as Transformers. The science fiction action film combines computer animation with live-action, while incorporating robots in the form of cars. It can be argued that this is a new type of art that is being created, just in different ways. 




It may be true that older styles and forms of art are not being produced or created as much in this century, but with the advancements in society and new technologies that robotics allows, we are able to look at and appreciate new forms of art, such as photography or animated films. There are even talent shows, such as ArtBots, for younger students who can showcase their robots. The contest is described as “an unprecedented opportunity to design and express new kinds of emotion, perception, and consciousness” (Artbots Website: http://artbots.org/2011/). 

References:

"ArtBots Gent, the Robot Talent Show 2011." ArtBots: The Robot Talent Show. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

"Summary: The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Introducing the Frankfurt School. N.p., 28 Feb. 2008. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. https://frankfurtschool.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/summary-the-work-of-art-in the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/

Vesna, Victoria. Robotics Intro. YouTube. Uconlineprogram, 18 Apr. 2015. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJcPtv7tnKY

"Intermediate Photography." NetNZ. N.p., 02 Dec. 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

"Climate Change Caused by 90 Companies Since Industrial Revolution." Wondergressive. N.p., 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.





Saturday, April 11, 2015

Week 2: Math + Art

After reading this week about the ways that math influences art and science, I have come to realize that there can hardly be a separation between math and art. Mathematics is an art in itself. It can be seen in so many cultures; origami, film, literature, music, architecture, and fine art. This week, I saw these elements while reading Edwin A. Abbott's "Flatland" as he uses geometric shapes to represent humans. I also saw began to see how artists use vanishing points within art to show certain figures closer or further away from the viewer in "Vanishing Points and Looking at Art" by Marc Frantz. It was also interesting to read how technology and science has impacted music through the use of frequency, pitch, and intervals in "Music and Computers: A Theoretical Approach." As seen below, without mathematics, we would not have some of the greatest works of art that have been seen in history. 






After taking an Art History class at UCLA, I was more aware of the mathematic elements that were involved in the early works of art during the Renaissance and Baroque time period. Topics such as linear perspective, proportions, and use of geometric elements of paintings and architecture were taught in this class. For example, one of the paints we studied was “St. Peter Healing a Cripple and the Raising of Tabitha”. Painted by Masolino, you can see below that there is a perfect convergence to the vanishing point from all parts of the painting. This allows objects that are in the distance to appear smaller. The technique of using linear perspective was extremely popular in art during the Renaissance time period.  You can view this painting below, or click on the following link to read more about Masolino and the topic of linear perspective in art. http://www.webexhibits.org/sciartperspective/raphaelperspective1.html



As a gymnast, I even seen mathematics used in my sport. In gymnastics, we have to manipulate our bodies in order to use Newton's Laws of Motion so we can complete certain skills safely and without injuring our bodies. For example, in order to complete as many flips as they can in the air, air time and rotational velocity are important, both being important mathematical components. The video below shows a difficult balance beam routine performed in a gymnastics competition. Elements of balance, spatial awareness, and laws of gravity must all be considered when a gymnast performs. 







Links to Sources Mentioned Above: 
http://www.cs.ucf.edu/courses/cap6938-02/refs/VanishingPoints.pdf
http://music.columbia.edu/cmc/MusicAndComputers/
http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/eaa/FL.HTM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcMxcRXEdzk
http://www.webexhibits.org/sciartperspective/raphaelperspective1.html

Works Cited: 

Burk, Phil. "Music and Computers." Music and Computers. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2015. 
Marc, Frantz. Lesson 3: Vanishing Points and Looking at Art (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 
"MATHEMATICS AND ART." MATHEMATICS AND ART. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2015. 
"Perspective: The Rise of Renaissance Perspective." Perspective: The Rise of Renaissance Perspective. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2015.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Week 1: Two Cultures


Two Cultures


Although art and science may seem like two distinct cultures and practices, there is a bridge between them. People may approach them with a different mindset, but both cultures are dedicated to using creative thinking and problem solving. The perspective of the writers in the articles we read is from that of either an artist or scientist. These perspectives can produce very different views on the the separation of art and science. As pictured below, Charles Percy Snow, scientist and author of the lecture titled “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution”, believed that the main hindrance to solving the world’s problems was the split between the two cultures of art and science. You can read more about Charles Percy Snow by clicking here





David Bohm, artist author of the article titled “On Creativity” emphasizes the role of creativity and how it is vital for science and humanity as a whole. Reading about the culture separation from different perspectives allows us to see that even though these eminent individuals come from two separate fields and cultures, they have a strong voice when it comes to the topic of the art/science separation. Read more about David Bohm here:





Themes of the separation between art and science are especially prevalent on our campus at UCLA. When I first arrived on campus in the fall of 2013, I heard people asking who was a “north campus major” or a “south campus major.” I soon learned that this was the difference between those with most art, social science, and english majors and the remaining other math and science majors. What stands out to me the most is the architecture and its aesthetic affects that the each side of campus encompasses. With bruin walk being the ‘separator’ between the sides, north campus has many romanesque, brick and tile style buildings, named after extremely smart people who had an impact on academia. 



On the other hand, south campus consists of modern style buildings, which are no longer named after people. I myself am a psychology major, which doesn’t seem to belong on either side of campus. Some would argue that it falls right in the middle of the two sides. 





Works Cited: 

"David Bohm." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

"Interview with David Bohm - F. David Peat." Interview with David Bohm - F. David Peat. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.

"Local Research We Cover the Best Businesses and the Best Deals." South Campus Shop UCLA Campus. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

”School Spotlight: UCLA." College Planning Advisorss Blog. WordPress, 06 Aug. 2010. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

"Snow, Charles Percy." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. 2008, "Charles Percy Snow." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004, and C.P "Snow. "Snow, Charles Percy." Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, 01 Jan. 2008. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.

"Sv: Crossing the Isle The Two Cultures of CP Snow." Sv: Crossing the Isle The Two Cultures of CP Snow. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.