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!

Week #4

This week in lecture we learned about how artists used medicine and technology in their exhibits. 
I never really thought of how an MRI machine can be used to create art.  I found it was interesting how the altering of ones perspective of from the machine is able to change the experience. 

I found the plastic surgery part very interesting as well.  The human body is a canvas and the doctor is like an artist creating art by changing the body.

 I also found the discussion on gene editing entertaining. Maybe because I just saw "Endgame", but the first thing that came to my mind was super heroes such as Iron Man or Wolverine.   The editing of human genes  also sparks the debate of its ethics.  Is being able to pay for the enhancement of intelligence or strength ethical?





Resources

Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts.” Configurations, vol. 19, no. 1, 2011, pp. 73–99., doi:10.1353/con.2011.0008.

Orlan - Carnal Art (2001) Documentary, 13 Mar. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch time_continue=1215&v=no_66MGu0Oo.

Vesna, Victoria, director. Medicine pt1. Medicine pt1, 22 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4.

Vesna, Victoria, director. Medicine Pt3. Medicine Pt3, 22 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4.

“​What Are the Ethical Concerns of Genome Editing? | NHGRI.” ​What Are the Ethical Concerns of Genome Editing? | NHGRI, www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genome-Editing/ethical-concerns.

Event #1 Los Angeles Science Center

For Event #1 I visited the Los Angeles Science Center.
 When I first arrived at the venue I was a bit curious on how
I was going to connect the center to our class.  But the longer
I stayed there, the more I noticed the connection.

The first exhibit that stood out to me was the work done by the
children at the Science Center School.  On the top of this exhibit
it says, “As a scientist I will discover…..”. What I noticed is the
children decided to draw images with words rather
than stating facts.  I personally feel this relates
to the discourse we discussed in week 1. Typically one would
assume these kids are in a science museum so they would respond
with strictly words. I enjoyed the way in which it was depicted with
a more creative route.

 

The blending of discourses was
displayed in another exhibit of the museum.
 Another group of students were asked what
 they learned during their visit.  A group of
children decided to express what their learned
 through art. And used colorful pictures to
depict what they learned.

The last exhibit I would like to discuss
is the exhibit that displays the amount of trash an
average american throws away a year(150 pounds).
 I felt the way this exhibit is presented also symbolizes
the combination of discourses. It really provides the
audience with a visual representation of how much
waste there is.

I would recommend visiting the science center.  
I thought it was visually a very cool place,
and ended up learning some interesting facts.  

Robotics

When I first think of mass production the first things that come to mind are the printing press and the assembly line. In lecture the professor speaks of the printing press and how it created new avenues for spreading knowledge.  Like the printing press, the assembly line allowed the mass production of items such as cars to be rapidly manufactured.

When the professor speaks of Faraday’s project of digital art I think of last week's material.  Without the combination of math and art this project is impossible. The math is involved in the coding of the barcodes, while the art is the cut out and placements of the designs of the barcodes.

 

 

Walter Benjamin states how there is sometimes a negative impact of technology on art. This can be because of the lack of originality when everything is mass produced.  For example, in the Middle Ages, Items that were made of Iron were produced for an individual by a welder. Nowadays, the same Item is made in mass production for a cheaper price.  However I do believe that individuals can still create the originality can be put on after the mass production. For example, cars are made through mass production, but people change certain features to make them more unique.  There can be multiple changes, such as paint color, rims, or interior designs. I believe these changes from the norm bring back the creativity and originality that is lost.

References

Hanson, David. Robots That “Show Emotion”. TED. 2009.

Online, UC. “Robotics pt2.” YouTube, YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk.

Solly, Meilan. “Christie's Is First to Sell Art Made by Artificial Intelligence, But What Does That Mean?” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 26 Oct. 2018, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/christies-first-sell-art-made-artificial-intelligence-what-does-mean-180970642/.

“10 Auto Industry Jobs That Will Die Due to Automation.” Money Inc, 9 Nov. 2016, moneyinc.com/10-auto-industry-jobs-will-die-due-automation.

“Printing Press.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_press.