Space and Art

Using what we have learned from nanotechnology, we can continue to look at space using a combination of what we have learned regarding science and art. Nanotechnology has even been found in space from Buckyballs that were born in space and survived a meteor impact. Another more recent discovery has found Buckyballs as a solid form in space whereas previously they had been found only in gas form here on Earth.

Looking at space in terms of art, gravity is at the forefront of this. Gravity can be described as a “physical force of attraction between massive objects, but it also connotes seriousness and depth, a metaphorical weight” (Forde.) The opposite of this, on the other hand, is lightlessness or weightlessness. This would be depicted through art that is suspended such dancers that are suspended in midair or ballerinas when they dance.  However, when looking at gravity through an artistic lens, we can see how artists incorporate gravity in faces of people with old age or buildings about to collapse.

New projects have looked at the possibility of having an elevator that connects to a space station as a more affordable option to building rockets. With space, the options are endless as seen in many new movies such as Tomorrowland and Interstellar.

Works Cited:

"Basic Plasma Science Facility at UCLA." BaPSF. University of California, Los Angeles, n.d. Web.

“Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity at EMPAC.” Art & Education. N.p.. Web.

"MARS PATENT: MES." MARS PATENT: MES. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Powers of Ten." YouTube. YouTube, 1977. Web.

Vesna , Victoria. Space Part 1-5. 2012. Film.

NANO

Thinking of art at the nano level is hard, because it is something you can’t see. However like with DNA, build up these nanomolecules and you get humans, cars, birds, and everything else you can imagine. Nanotechnology allows up to tap into a whole new world, that was, until recently, inaccessible.

Working at the nano level has also allowed researchers to build the first programmable nanoprocessor. Working at the molecular level has opened up a new world as it has lead to more complexity and function of circuits. Playing with these building blocks has lead to a whole new world of art.

A way in which art and science combine is through a project called Transjuicer, where a speaker is being made completely out of bone.

The reasons for this are stated, “Ongoing research and the presentation of Transjuicer has been motivated by the artist’s desire to investigate phenomena occurring beyond our human capacity to sense, and to amplify these interactions in such a way that they are able to be effectively experienced at the human scale.” Therefore, by amplifying these otherwise unknown molecules, we can relate to the processes going on in a whole new light. Therefore, art isn’t such on a visual level but also a level that is beneath the surface.

Works Cited:

"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.base. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2015.

Kurzweil, Ray. "Ray Kurzweil: A University for the Coming Singularity." Ted Talks. N.p., Feb. 2009. Web.

"Making Stuff." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.

Rothemund, Paul. "DNA Folding, in Detail." Ted Talks. N.p., Feb. 2008. Web.

"World's First Programmable Nanoprocessor." Nanowiki. N.p., 10 Feb. 2011. Web.

Neuroscience Today

In this week’s lecture, the professor brings up an important man named Fraz Joseph Gall, who showed us how the brain looked using phrenology. He believed the functions of the body were localized in specific regions of the brain. Considering the lack of technology then, this did not seem so far fetched. Even though he has since been proved wrong, his concept of localizations was proven correct and has since been used in treatment today. As Christopher deCharms states, “There have been three ways to try to impact the brain. The therapist couch, pills, and the knife.”  

He goes on to state that now there is a new type of technology using MRIs to show how the brain can be used to self- heal. In the MRI, it shows the pain from the body in real time and where these localized spots in the body correspond to locations in the brain. Then, people can use their brain to control their pain; this notion has lead to improvement in clinical trials by a 34-64 decrease in chronic pain.

In addition, research on meditation has shown increased focus and control over emotions. This increased control is similar to the above study that controls pain. Ultimately, the way science has opened up new avenues of the brain has showed how we can expand the world we live in and make it better. Lobsang Rapgay believes that we can use different facets to explore how people can work together to “gain great mental flexibility, creativity and compassion” through the use of neuroscience.

Works Cited:

DeCharms, Christopher. "A Look inside the Brain in Real Time." Ted Talks. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2015.

Lin, Judy. "Neuroscientist Helps Pave Way for Dalai Lama's Visit." UCLA Newsroom. N.p., 24 Feb. 2011. Web. 18 May 2015.

Ramachandran, VS. "3 Clues to Understanding Your Brain." Ted Talks. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious / Memory (Part 1).” Lecture. 17 May 2015.

Wheeler, Mark. "How to Build a Bigger Brain." UCLA Newsroom. N.p., 12 May 2009. Web. 18 May 2015.

Event 1 - Huntington Beach Surf Museum

I have been lucky enough to grow up around the beach my whole life.  It actually was a big part of where I chose to go to college because I am an avid surfer.  Admittedly, I have been to the Huntington Beach Surf Museum a few times prior to this assignment, however I never looked at it through the perspective in which this class has given me.  

In this picture, you can see me with the owner and a statue of Duke Kahanamoku.  After 22 years in the Navy, he came back to his hometown to run the museum.  As I walked through the museum it was obvious that the trend was going from the historic first surfers and surfboards to the new age athleticism and with it, the highly efficient surfboards.  The walls were bustling with the pioneers of surfing and halfway through I realized that I was missing half of the story which was displayed as footprints on the floor.  These footprints named historic events in Huntington Beach; one example was of Robert August making the most famous surf movie to date called Endless Summer.

Surfing, at it's core, is biased because it is scored by humans.  The technology has continued to push the limits of what is possible on a wave through innovative and creative new materials and design elements, but something else has played a huge role on surfing's history as well, which is creativity of the athlete.  The ability of surfers to create new maneuvers or even styles has had an increasingly important effect on how surfers are being scored in contests.  This combination of art and technology have combined to create some of the most awe-inspiring events where humans can interact with nature to inspire the next generation of surfing.

Works Cited: 

"Perfect Barrel for Taj Burrow on Day 2 at Globe Pro Fiji." Surfersvillage.com. Globe Pro Fiji, n.d. Web. 13 May 2015. <http://www.surfersvillage.com/content/perfect-barrel-taj-burrow-day-2-globe-pro-fiji>.

Biotech's interaction with art

In this week’s topic, a video from Craig Venter speaks about synthetic life and the development of a cell “whose parent is a computer and the first species to have its own website encoded in its genetic code.” This idea of biotechnology manipulating life has had much debate in recent years. Many people think that its unethical, such as the group NOVA, who recently set fire to an agricultural research center to reject the genetic manipulations happening to food. In order to get fish to grow quicker, corn to combat parasites and other similar genetic changes, researchers are manipulating the genetics of plants and animals. There are problems already associated with biotech but we won’t know the long-lasting effect until later. As Wenk mentions in his article, there is a fine line between a drug and a food. Even now, some of the foods we eat come from popular plants and animals that are used to make psychoactive drugs. By genetically manipulating food,  these chemicals could cause changes in our brain chemistry and we still don't fully understand the interactions that could result from an increase or decrease in the neurotransmitters in our system.

This is not the first time we have seen biotechnology manipulate its environment. An extreme example is from the movie Jurassic Park. In the movie, scientists have genetically reengineered dinosaurs to bring them back to life to use in a theme park. Like with genetically manipulating dinosaurs, manipulating food begins with excitement as researchers find a way to create more food at a lower cost. However, it can take a turn for the worst, like in Jurassic Park when the dinosaurs break out of their environment. This is seen when a genetic manipulation of a food turns into an invasive species. Biotechnology's interaction with art will continue to be observed in the future as it continues to be a topic that does not have all the answers. 

Works Cited:

"NOVA/Frontline Harvest of Fear 1/12." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.

"POV | Food, Inc. | Interview with Michael Pollan | PBS." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.

"Seed Magazineabout." This Is Your Brain on Food § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.

"'Super Weed' Taking Strong Hold in Utah | KSL.com." 'Super Weed' Taking Strong Hold in Utah | KSL.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.

"Swank Motion Pictures, Inc." Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. BioTech and Art Lectures. DESMA 9. Web.

"Watch Me Unveil "synthetic Life"" Craig Venter:. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.