The Synthesis of Medicine, Technology, & Art

"Human anatomy and dissection is truly at the intersection between art and science." - Professor Vesna

Dating back to ancient times, the human body has been dissected for various cultural, religious, and medical purposes. Ancient Egyptian society held a common belief and respect for the afterlife. For both spiritual and cultural reasons, they went through great measures to mummify their dead. This intricate process includes dissecting the body, taking out the organs, and preserving them separately. In a sense, this ancient Egyptian ritual was also a complex medical process. The picture below depicts how Egyptians used art to supplement directions for the scientific mummification process. 

The scientific study of mummies was heavily sought after in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Modern methods of scientific research are being applied to study mummies for archeological purposes. These new methods allow for research to be done without having to unwrap the mummies, which help to avoid some ethical cultural issues surrounding ancient Egyptian culture. CAT scans and X-Ray machines form a digital image of the body, allowing biologists to investigate the life expectancy of ancient people, as well as any prevalent diseases or genetic disorders. Depicted below is a mummy from the British Museum in London.

Taking the concept of art and human dissection one step further, "Bodies, the Exhibition" provides a unique and unparalleled way of exploration into the human body. These bodies are carefully dissected and preserved for display, which provide an immeasurable, informational view into human anatomy. Here, forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht narrates a tour of the Bodies Exhibit at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Science Center. 

It is no question that medicine and art have been intertwined since the beginning of human history. Now more than ever, art and science are making countless break throughs in more and more fields of research. Understanding the influence of ancient methods is crucial to understanding how today's synthesis of art and science goes great lengths in gaining new perspectives for the medical, forensic, biological, and educational fields. 

SOURCES:

"The Egyptian Mummification Process" Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.

Mummification Process N.d. Photograph. Wellbeing. 27 Oct 2013.<http://www.wellbeing.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Mummification-process.jpg>.

Mummy at British Museum N.d. Photograph. Wikimedia. 27 Oct 2013.<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Mummy_at_British_Museum.jpg/300px-Mummy_at_British_Museum.jpg>.

The Real Human Bodies Exhibit. Steven Adams. YouTube. N.p., 28 September 2007. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kJmypE1DGQ>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine pt1." DESMA 9. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>. Lecture

Robotics + Art

As professor Vesna states, "the dialogue between science, technology, and culture is a two way street." 

The invention of the printing press in 1040 by the Chinese, brought to the West in 1450 by Johannes Guttenberg, revolutionized the way people see the world they live in, ushering the mass production of knowledge and exchange. From this sprouted the age of Enlightenment, which influences a lot of the technology and culture we still see in today's society. For example, Isaac Newton's ideas contributed to mechanics, and we still listen to the classical music of Mozart and Bach.

Nikolas Tesla,  best known for his extensive work in electromagnetism, formed the basis of wireless communication we use today. Tesla Motors, named after the electrical engineer and physicist, designs and manufactures electric vehicles to produce affordable cars. 

Last weekend, I dropped my phone and the screen shattered. Though it was still fairly usable, I was devastated that it broke. I've said before that my phone is like an extension of my arm. My generation in particular has become extremely dependent and attached to their smart phone devices. Nowadays, phones are made to be sleeker and more compact. They can talk to you, act as a GPS, and follow commands, amongst many other things. My supervisor has two phones- one for personal use, and one for work. Though smart phones do not have the physical movement capability of robots, they are constantly developing its technology for higher functionality. 

When I think of Cyborgs, the first movie that comes to mind is the Terminator series. In summary, the movie is about a cyborg assassin sent back in time with a mission to kill a target. His mission is hindered by another human resistance fighter that is sent back in time to protect the target. Though the Terminator has an external tissue that makes him "human," his internal skeleton is fully metal. This movie is a great example of how robots are being developed and viewed as more and more "human." 

David Hanson describes in his TED talk about robots that show emotion, and how robotic science is constantly expanding. He showcases a robot head he has designed, which is able to reflect back to you whatever facial expression you are conveying. 


SOURCES:

"David Hanson: Robots that 'Show Emotion.'" TED Talks. YouTube, Oct. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

Terminator Poster Banner. N.d. Photograph. KeyArt Designs. 20 Oct 2013.<http://keyartdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/the-terminator-movie-poster-1020189580.jpg>.

Tesma Motors Banner. N.d. Photograph. Tesla Motors. 20 Oct 2013.<http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/tesla-model-s-electric-car-photo-h01.jpg>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics pt1." DESMA 9. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk>. Lecture. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt2.” DESMA 9. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk>. Lecture. 

Mathematics, Art, and Science in Your Daily Life

In today’s society, we don’t typically think of mathematics and art to be on the same spectrum. However, to understand art is to understand how it is inextricably entwined with mathematics.  If you look closely, you can see how we are surrounded by both mathematics and art in our every day lives.

Fractuals are a phenomena of self-similar patterns that seemingly repeat itself in scales.  Fractuals are not by chance; in fact, they correspond to mathematical formulas and can be seen all around in nature.  Here is an example of a fractual in a shell and plant:

Fascinated with paradoxes and geometry, MC Escher created works of art to examine and demonstrate a wide range of mathematical ideas.  MC Escher isn’t the only artist to understand the important role of mathematics and art.  We see other’s utilizing the concept of a vanishing point to create 3D depth perception in a 2D drawing. 

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” goes the old saying…or does it? I took a Community Health class at UCLA, where we discussed the concept of beauty and what it means to society.  One of the most interesting things that my professor introduced us to was the golden ratio.  It both awe-struck and fascinated me to learn that there is an actual formula behind the golden ratio, which the Greeks used in ancient times for architectural aesthetics.  This video reveals how instrumental technology can be in enhancing both the creation and exposure of the “golden ratio.”

Math plays an essential role in architecture development and execution. Similar to the Greeks, much of the architecture you see today still embodies the rule of the Golden Ratio. Here is a blueprint drawing of the mathematics involved in building a bridge:

The juxtaposition of math, art, and science creates a symbiotic relationship.  Artists are better able to express themselves through math, while the advancement of technology can be catalyzed through the use of art.    

Sources:

17 Captivating Fractuals in Nature. Photograph. Web. 12 Oct 2013.

< http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2008/09/07/17-amazing-examples-of-fractals-in-nature/>

Golden Ratio- The Perfect Face & Change the Sex of People. Jimmy Ruska. YouTube. N.p., 23 July 2007. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO3o9drC1mQ>.

Henderson, Linda. The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion. Diss. Print.

Escher , M.C. "Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher."Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct 2013. <http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/minitext/escher/>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Mathematics | Perspective | Time | Space." DESMA 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg. Lecture.

Two Cultures

"Two Cultures" play an important role in understanding the fundamental discrepancy between the arts and sciences. The term was coined by CP Snow, who identified the two cultures as literary intellectuals and natural scientists.  Snow was convinced that the school curricula caused the separation between cultures, pointing it out as the source of the problem. 

On a campus as vast and diverse as UCLA, we are given the fortunate opportunity to explore both the arts and the sciences. Though many "north" campus majors never step foot on the "south" campus side, and vice versa, there are still many chances for individuals to explore the other side. For example, I was a psychobiology major when I first came to UCLA, which allowed me to explore Psychology (north campus) and the human body (south campus), both of which equally fascinates me.  

As a continuing psychology major, I am extremely interested in the way people think. I admit I have fallen to the misconception that right brained people are more artistic and left brained people are more linear. According to Professor Vesna, this common misconception is false. The example she gives is that mathmaticians by nature must be extensively creative. All of the genius businessmen of our time use creativity and art to catalyze the advancement of technology and science. Steve Jobs is a prime example of someone who understood the balance between the arts and sciences. 

A true scholar is one who fully understands and embraces that art and science are inexplicably intertwined.    

Fabian Oefner uses simple scientific phenomena in an unparallel way to unravel how beauty can be seen everyday, if only people take the time to acknowledge it.

At orientation, UCLA freshman ceremonially dip their hands into the inverted fountain, located at the middle ground of north and south campus. This unique piece of art is something that brings the UCLA community together at the beginning of their journey before they embark on their own separate paths at the university. 

Albert Einstein, one of the leading theoretic physicists of his time, believes that creativity can get you farther than knowledge.  

Sources:

"Fabian Oefner: Psychadelic Science." TED Talks. YouTube, 3 Oct. 2013. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.

Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.

"Steve Jobs." UCLA Undergraduate Admissions. University of California. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.

"University of California, Los Angeles." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2013. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.

Wilson, Stephen D. “Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology.” College Art Association Meetings. New York, New York. 1 Oct. 2012. Lecture.