Event #3

 The History Museum was a very cool experience.  This was my first time visiting the Natural History Music in LA.  It was unique how they presented the minerals in such a visual pleasing and artistic way.  I can relate this back to the Unit one material.  I also feel this visual representation helps the views stay engaged, especially with children.

Another Unit that came to mind when I was there was the unit on architecture.   This room was perfectly symmetrical with matching pillars.  It also has a beautiful painted glass ceiling.  This room was absolutely stunning and one of my favorite parts of the museum really enjoyed the exhibits of the animals.  Its cool that we are able to replicate what animals looked like even tho they no longer exist. 

Here is a picture of me exploring Natural History Museum.  

Space

I found this week to be very interesting.  The technology that is created to explore space is incredibly fascinating.  Even the idea of just being able to survive in a spaceship and machines outside this planet is mind blowing.  What most of us learned in U.S History the space Race was created during the Cold War between the US and Russia. 

I also found it interesting the amount of money and resources it requires to reach space.  It is an enormous investment.  However,  President Trump has expanded funding for  the Space Force. In 2020 the Defense Department is expected to receive $270 million dollars.  This money will create a Space Force headquarters, Space Development Agency, and U.S space command. 

I found the story in regards to Laika the dog to be a bit sad.  Also the testing on multiples dogs seemed a bit cruel.  In fact they had run tests of simulating what a dog might encounter in space. These conditions were such as locked in pod for week at times, as well as loud and frightening noises with minimal food.  Laika is believed to had died shortly after launch due to extreme heat.









Sources
Foust, Jeff. “US and Japan to Cooperate on Return to the Moon.” Space.com, Space, 29 May 2019, www.space.com/us-japan-cooperation-moon-return.html.

George, Alice. “The Sad, Sad Story of Laika, the Space Dog, and Her One-Way Trip into Orbit.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 11 Apr. 2018, www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/sad-story-laika-space-dog-and-her-one-way-trip-orbit-1-180968728/.

Thesheetztweetz. “SpaceX Is the No. 1 Rocket Company by Revenue, with $2 Billion Last Year, Jefferies Estimates.” CNBC, CNBC, 20 May 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/05/20/spacex-revenue-2-billion-from-rockets-last-year-jefferies-estimate.html.

Vesna, Victoria, director. Space part4. YouTube, YouTube, 30 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ClKO6AJPo.

Vesna, Victoria, director. Space Pt 3. Space Pt 3, YouTube, 29 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WOqt_C55Mk.

Nanotech

I found what Dr.  Gimzewski had to say to be very interesting.  I enjoy hearing from other professors here at UCLA.  Before this week’s material I had very minimal knowledge on nanotech.  I did not know almost every aspect of science and technology is impacted by nanotech. The Dr. also explains that it is the Greek word for dwarf and was originally used in a conference by Norio Taniguchi.  Norio Taniguchi of the Tokyo Univreisty of Science used the word in a conference in 1974. 

He increased my understanding by explaining nanotechnology using a logarithmic scale and an atom.  

He also tells us how the concept of nanotechnology first appeared during a talk by Richard Feynman. This talk occurred on December 29, 1959. His talk detailed the ideas of moving and manipulating atoms one by one.  I also was made aware that the laws of physics change and quantum effects dominate. I was unaware that by changing the sizes you are changing the laws that they follow.  

Resources

“Gimzewski, James K.” Gimzewski, James K. | UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry, www.chemistry.ucla.edu/directory/gimzewski-james-k. 

Feder, Barnaby J. “The Art of Nanotech”. The New York Times, 25 Jan. 2008, bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-art-of-nanotech./

Panjwani, Laura. “R&D Special Focus: Nanotechnology.” Research & Development, 28 Mar. 2018, www.rdmag.com/article/2018/02/r-d-special-focus-nanotechnology. 

“Richard Feynman and the Pleasure Principle.” The New Atlantis, www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/richard-feynman-and-the-pleasure-principle.

V

esna, Victoria. Gimzewski, Jim. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science." 23 May 2019, vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publication/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm.

Event #2

For my event #2 I visited the art exhibit created by Professor Vesna.  The exhibit was a technological reproduction of the noises heard underwater.  Some of these noises consisted of boats, drilling, and sonar.  These noises pollute the environment and hurt the plankton.  Each student was asked to step on the device and guide the plankton to the middle of the screen.  If done successfully a whale noise would be played, and  if you failed to do so, noises such as drilling would be played.  I felt that the loud audio in the room help us picture the disturbance that the plankton are feeling.  I was starting to get a headache after like 5 minutes, I couldn't imagine hearing it constantly.

LSD ART

This week’s material was quite entertaining.  It discussed the effects of mind altering substances such as LSD.  It opened my eyes and  pushed me into furthering my research in LSD art.  Before taking this class, I was unaware this was even a thing. This art the product of inspiration due to psychedelic drugs.  This first became common back in 1960s.   An Artist by the name of Henri Michaux was considered a starter for psychedelic art.  Another interesting fact is that some of the art work shared similar influences as if those that were schizophrenics.  Oscar Janiger, created the expression “dry schizophrenia” for those that can “control their surroundings and yet be crazy at the same time”.  

            LSD psychotherapy in the 1980s became another common practice. It is a pretty self-explanatory process. It involves patients painting while on LSD.  

One Artist used LSD to draw herself over the nine hours and how it affected her brain.  This was done during an experiment by the US government in 1950s.  Below is 15 minutes after taking the drug and nine hours after the drugs.






















References
Lynn Svensson (2006). Looking For Frank Murdoch: The LSD Experiments.


"The History of LSD - Acid, Albert Hoffman & Timothy Leary - Drug-Free World". www.drugfreeworld.o

JStanislav Grof (1980). Tripscapes: LSD Art From Stan Grof's Psychedelic Epic – LSD Psychotherapy

adeLynn. “Artist Used LSD And Drew Herself For 9 Hours To Show How It Affects Brain.” Bored Panda, www.boredpanda.com/lsd-portrait-drawings-girl/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic. 

“

LSD Art.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD_art.

JadeLynn. “Artist Used LSD And Drew Herself For 9 Hours To Show How It Affects Brain.” Bored Panda, www.boredpanda.com/lsd-portrait-drawings-girl/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic. 

“LSD Art.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD_art.

JadeLynn. “Artist Used LSD And Drew Herself For 9 Hours To Show How It Affects Brain.” Bored Panda, www.boredpanda.com/lsd-portrait-drawings-girl/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic. 

“LSD Art.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD_art.

Biotech Art

This week's material was completely new to me.  I was unaware that there was use of
biotechnology in the art world.  What intrigued me most was the controversy over restrictions in biotechnology.  I personally feel it is difficult to put restrictions on art because it begins to limit freedom of speech and uniqueness. Although, I do understand the concerns that that people have about complete freedom when it comes to biotech art.  

When I think about  biotechnology I think of the modifications and editing of genes in unborn babies.
 I think this is a very powerful yet scary process. I do think if there is a way to prevent future
generations from illnesses and diseases could be incredibly beneficial.  
But I am worried about it being taken too far, and creating the perfect child could lead to
a lack of individuality.

I read an interesting article that involved an artist creating a small “jacket”
made out of mouse tissue cells. The part that stuck out to me the most is that the
artwork was kept living through an incubation system. In addition when it was time
to take the exhibit down, she couldn't bring herself to do it, because she did
not want to kill the creation she had made.

References

Bio Art | Artlink Magazine, www.artlink.com.au/issues/3430/bio-art/.

Delgado, Rick. “How Artists Are Blending Biotechnology And Art.” MakeUseOf, 8 May 2015, www.makeuseof.com/tag/artists-blending-biotechnology-art/.

Miranda, Carolina A. “Weird Science: Biotechnology as Art Form -.” ARTnews, 4 Mar. 2013, www.artnews.com/2013/03/18/biotechnology-as-art-form/.

Specktor, Brandon. “CRISPR Gene Editing May Be Doing More Damage Than Scientists Thought.” LiveScience, Purch, 16 July 2018, www.livescience.com/63075-crispr-damage-cell-mutations.html.

Vesna, Victoria, director. Bioart Part 5. Bioart Part 5, YouTube, 17 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&v=2qSc72u9KhI.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1q0Y4WjiirzaDOooPIBEgX4IVdIswzQfDVjWWjf6etVM/edit?usp=sharing Here is the Link to my Midterm PowerPoint!