Event 1: Disney California Adventure Park

Call it senioritis, but last weekend right before finals, I went to Disneyland and California Adventure with some friends. I didn't realize at the time, but there are a variety of exhibitions and shows that demonstrate the fusion of art and science. Specifically, I was able to take a closer look at how Neuorscience + Art was illustrated at Animation Academy. The World of Color exhibition also modeled the topics of both Math + Art and Robotics + Art that have been discussed in lecture.  

This zoetrope  is an exhibition at Disney California Adventure’s Animation Academy. Here, the zoetrope employs the use of the viewer's motion perception and visual pathways. The 3D figures rotate on a disk while an LED strobe light rapidly flashes against a series of static images to produce the illusion of motion. This Toy Story Zoetrope features three-dimensional figures of characters instead of one-dimensional ones to demonstrate how sculptures can easily become fully animated in the eye of the beholder. 

This reminded me of a sensations and perceptions class I took, which explained how your brain perceives different visual sensations. Here, the neuroscience of your visual perception plays a dominant role in the success of this piece of art. Similar to optical illusions, this zoetrope triggers the dorsal (parietal) pathway of the brain. 

World of Color has more than 1,000 fountains that can shoot water up to 200 ft in the air. Each fountain is equipped with an LED light ring and also includes a 380 foot mist screen on which images are projected. The show also contains fog, lasers, and fire nozzles that can shoot fire 50 ft into the air. In addition, high definition projection domes emerge from the water atop telescopic masts and feature lighting effects and video scenes from favorite Disney and Pixar movies. Mark Hammond and Dave Hamilton arranged the music, which was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and The Nashville Choir. 

With all of the behind the scenes engineering that goes into creating the theatrics of the show, World of Color is a clear illustration of how math, technology, and art are inextricably related. This exhibition is also aesthetically pleasing and employs the use of the Golden Ratio, used by the ancient Greeks in architecture. This is a concept that Professor Vesna discussed during lecture. 

Sometimes, it is not easily recognizable how art, technology, and science are fused together. However, if we take a closer look, we can see how all three surround us in our daily lives. 

SOURCES:

Character closeup. N.d. Photograph. 9 Dec 2013 <https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disney-california-adventure/character-closeup/>

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

World of Color. N.d. Photograph. 9 Dec 2013 <https://disneyland.disney.go.com/entertainment/disney-california-adventure/world-of-color/>