Week 9: Space + Art

Humans are curious creatures; we love what we don’t understand.  This week’s topic, Space + Art, touches on our inherent need to learn. Since the first people roamed our planet, the night sky has always played a role in society. Whether used in determining the seasons or merely trying to find meaning in the world they lived in, astronomy has always been linked with humanity (Cowen). 

Films, books, and television shows have a deep-rooted relationship with space as well. Christopher Nolan’s new Academy Award winning movie, Interstellar, draws viewers in with the lure of wormholes and blackholes, two topics the general public does not know too much about (“Interstellar Awards”). Although the plot is fictional, Interstellar prides itself on scientific accuracy. With the help of Kip Thorne, a famous astrophysicist and theorist, the crew of Interstellar not only worked tirelessly to create the most accurate simulations possible for the film, but also actually discovered new information about black holes (Rogers). In aiming to produce art with science, they progressed in both realms. 

With curiosity comes the need to make sense of our world. Humans love patterns and these patterns can often be found in math. The Powers of Ten Blog makes massive numbers easier to comprehend by incorporating them into interesting topics such as Valentine’s Day and the Challenger Deep (Marlow). For example, in the “Challenger Deep” article, the author says “Challenger Deep is approximately 11,030 meters (36,200 feet) [or 10^4 feet] deep. It is named after the HMS Challenger, whose crew first sounded the depths of the trench in 1875 [10^2 years ago]” Without taking away from the content, the author slips in powers of ten to get the reader more familiar with exponentials.

Appealing to mankind’s curious nature can be a useful tool to fuse art and science, and historically, space seems to do the trick.

REFERENCES

"About | ARCTIC PERSPECTIVE INITIATIVE." About | ARCTIC PERSPECTIVE INITIATIVE. Arctic Perspective Initiative, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

"Awards." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

Cowen, Ron. "When the Sky Explained Everything - Issue 11: Light - Nautilus." Nautilus. Nautilus, 27 Mar. 2014. Web. 01 June 2015.

Eames Office LLC. Filmstrip Image. Digital image. Fast Co Design. Fast Co Design, 8 Oct. 2010. Web. 31 May 2015.

Holmes, Brian. "CODED UTOPIA." Continental Drift. Continental Drift, 27 Mar. 2007. Web. 01 June 2015.

"Interstellar." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

Levrier, Guy. "Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers." Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers. Leonardo, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

Marlow. "An Eames Office Website." Powers of Ten Blog. Wordpress, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

Rogers, Adam. "WRINKLES IN SPACETIME: The Warped Astrophysics of Interstellar." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

The 88 Star Constellations. Digital image. The 88 Star Constellations. Go Astronomy, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.

Zeitz, Richard. Black hole scene. Digital image. Frontline Desk. Frontline Desk, 14 Feb. 2015. Web. 31 May 2015.

Week 8: Nanotech + Art

This week’s lecture, Nanotech + Art is a prevalent topic gaining momentum in today’s society. I have never been exposed to the science behind nanotechnology and was very interested to understand how we can work with atoms on such a small scale. 

One example I found particularly interesting was when Jim Gimzewski mentioned that the nanostructure of gecko feet has inspired scientists to try to replicate it for adhesives (Gimzewski).  After doing some research, I found that Professor Robert Langer and Jeff Karp from MIT were some of those scientists making useful breakthroughs for the medical community. In 2008, they created a biodegradable, waterproof, adhesive bandage that could potentially be used in sealing wounds and surgeries on the heart, lungs, and other wet surfaces (Dougherty). 

Luckily, these bandages are biodegradable so their incredible stickiness can be maximized without any repercussions. By altering the landscape of the bandage on the nanoscale to improve adhesiveness, they further hypothesized that they could alter the landscape to infuse drugs into the bandages in the future (Dougherty). Scientists have experimented with self-assembling materials in an artistic sense as well. Wim L. Noorduin created beautiful micro-bouquets of flowers, coral reefs, and another natural shapes (Gravotta). Although intended to better understand patterns in nature, by controlling these nanoparticles he was also creating art (Perry). 

One of the toughest problems we will face in the near future will be the perception shift necessary to accept a world ruled by nanotechnology. Although the technology may be there, historically the public has not always been willing to accept unknown and dramatic change. Art is one of the means by which we can integrate nanotechnology into the public’s conscience in a less intimidating manner. I agree with Jim Gimzewski and Victoria Vesnas‘s “The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact & fiction in the construction of a new science,” in which they argue that artists and scientists need to work together to create and propagate this new society that will be turned upside by nanotechnology.

REFERENCES

Coveney, Donna. Robert Langer and Jeffrey Karp. Digital image. MIT News. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 18 Feb. 2008. Web. 21 May 2015.

Dougherty, Elizabeth. "MIT Creates Gecko-inspired Bandage." MIT News. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 18 Feb. 2008. Web. 22 May 2015.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Unit 8." DESMA 9. United States, Los Angeles. 21 May 2015. Lecture.

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science." (n.d.): 1-8. Web. 21 May 2015.

Gravotta, Luciana. "Very Fine Art: 6 Stunningly Beautiful Nanoscale Sculptures [Slide Show]." Scientific American Global RSS. Scientific American, 19 May 2013. Web. 22 May 2015.

Nanotechnology. Digital image. Nanotechnology. Aatitec, n.d. Web. 21 May 2015.

Noorduin, Wim L. False color SEM images. Digital image. Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 16 May 2013. Web. 21 May 2015.

Perry, Caroline. "Beautiful "flowers" Self-assemble in a Beaker." Beautiful "flowers" Self-assemble in a Beaker. Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 16 May 2013. Web. 22 May 2015.

Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

Understanding the human brain concerns more than just neurologists; even the general public has expressed interest in the subject. One of the ways the general public aims to comprehend our own consciousness is through the use of recreational drugs. 

When Albert Hoffman synthesized LSD for the first time in 1938, he was trying to find a drug to help with respiratory and circulatory problems (Bellis). Little did he know that he had accidentally created a drug that would define a massive counterculture movement in America (Rothstein). 

Apart from the mass consumption of LSD and the culture that arose around it, the use of LSD and mind-altering drugs also inspired Aldous Huxley’s novels, The Doors of Perception and Brave New World, two novels that center on drug use and quality of life (Vesna). This strange combination of science and art can be linked back man’s innate desire to understand oneself. Whether recreational drugs can give us more insight into our brains or not, it does bring up ethical concerns. A commonly asked question is if we are treating too many minor problems with unnecessary drugs. I say its up to the consumer. If the help of a drug drastically increases their quality of life then it is worth it. In a similar way, artists often use drugs to enhance their creativity when producing art (Frazzetto 819). I think we can all say that we’ve experienced some form of art that we were convinced was created under the influence. Regardless, artists and scientists will always be inspired by the other’s work and in the words of Jonah Lehrer, “‘science needs art to frame the mystery, but art needs science so that not everything is a mystery,’” (Frazzetto 820).

REFERENCES

Bellis, Mary. "Albert Hofmann and the Invention of LSD." About.com Inventors. About.com, n.d. Web. 15 May 2015.

Carey, Benedict. "A Psychedelic ‘Problem Child’ Comes Full Circle." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 May 2008. Web. 15 May 2015.

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Perspectives (2009): 815-21. Nature Reviews. Web. 14 May 2015.

Jung, Carl. "The Spiritual Problem of Modern Man." Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 10: Civilization in Transition (2014): n. pag. Web.

Kakanos, Sotiris. Drugs. Digital image. Rabbit Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.

Manson, Mark. Bad Acid Trip. Digital image. Mark Manson. N.p., 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 14 May 2015.

Pharmacopoeia. Cradle to Grave. Digital image. The British Museum. The British Museum, 2003. Web. 14 May 2015.

Rothstein, Edward. "A Mind-Altering Drug Altered a Culture as Well." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 May 2008. Web. 15 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Unit 7." DESMA 9. United States, Los Angeles. 14 May 2015. Lecture

Week 6: BioTech + Art

Talking about the relationship between biotechnology and art raises many serious questions about ethics, regulations, and boundaries to name a few. Altering bacteria’s DNA to produce art was what Joe Davis, the founder of bioart, did best (Vesna). 

His controversial work challenged ethical scientific limitations and what should be considered art. Because bacteria are not conscious, I think his work is relatively harmless. I believe that bioart in Davis’ sense is acceptable and should be explored deeper without any hindrances from the public. On the other hand, Eduardo Kac’s “GFP Bunny” in 2000 produces quite a few concerns. The “GFP Bunny” was created by inserting the Aequorea Victoria jellyfish’s fluorescent gene into the rabbit’s fertilized egg cell (Vesna). Kac named her Alba, and once she was born he stated that, “She immediately awoke in me a strong and urgent sense of responsibility for her well-being” (Kac). 

Compared to changing bacteria’s DNA, “GFP Bunny” impedes more dramatically into this animal’s life, and Kac felt an obligation to take care of her, showing just how real this experiment is. Because Alba was unharmed in her gene modification, I believe inserting the fluorescent gene into her egg is worthy of being considered art because Alba’s life is a valid expressive medium. On the other hand, Alba is conscious and capable of a wide range of emotion, and this act can’t help but anticipate thoughts of gene modification in humans. Modifying animals for aesthetic rather than medical reasons can be a slippery slope. On the notion of legality, the inclusion of the public into the scientific world makes it increasingly difficult to mandate any regulations. Chris Kelty explains the different faces of science today: the outlaw, the hacker, and the Victorian Gentlemen (Kelty). Although generally optimistic throughout, the article inspired fear into me that DIY biology could lead to inventions like destructive viruses or genetic warfare if put in the wrong hands. 

There is no telling how biotechnology and art will influence our world, but we will be part of the era that finds out. 

REFERENCES

Cetcopra, Sacha. DIY Bio logo. Digital image. Synenergene. Synenergene, 13 Dec. 2014. Web. 5 May 2015.

Davis. Digital image. Networked Performance. Networked Performance, 22 Oct. 2008. Web. 5 May 2015.

Fontaine, Chrystelle. Alba. Digital image. GFP BUNNY. KAC, n.d. Web. 5 May 2015.

Kac, Eduardo. "BIO ART." BIO ART. KAC, n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.

Kac, Eduardo. "GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY. KAC, n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.

Kelty, Chris. "Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?" (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 5 May 2015.

Kac, Eduardo. "BIO ART." BIO ART. KAC, n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Unit 7." DESMA 9. United States, Los Angeles. 5 May 2015. Lecture.