Week 4 Blog

This week’s readings were, “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts.” By Casini, Silvia, “The Architecture of Life.” By Ingber, Donald E., and “The Hippocratic Oath Today.” By Tyson, Peter. The readings and video literatures connected three main concepts that surround our ever days life’s which consist of Medicine, Art, and Technology. One thing that stood out to me from The Hippocratic Oath, was the multiple versions they have, in fact that all of them had a key concept about having respect towards life and art. According to the video Medicine pt1, since the first dissection known to man, both doctors and artist have worked closely together in order to record different parts of the human body but also doing it in the form of art. Medicine and Art are both closely related due to medicine being its own subsection within art. 

“History of Anatomy.”

“Isonoe II.” Art Amy Helene

I never really noticed how interconnected the medical field was to art until last quarter. I was sitting in lecture one day learning about Polymerase Chain Reaction *PCR) which is a method many scientists and doctors use in order to make multiple copies of a specific strand of DNA. Our professor had a random slide of an art piece. She explained that it was art she made using the leftover paper stripes used in PCR. This piece of art also related to the reading “The Architecture of Life” because DNA is a building block of our own body. DNA fits perfectly under the definition of Tensegrity which is defined as “an architectural system in which structures stabilize themselves by balancing the counteracting forces of compression and tension.” (E. Ingber) 

The last experience with medical technology in relation to art was very personal. I once had a CT Scan preformed on me before I got my appendix removed. I never really thought of this situation being related to art but after reading I definitely do. My experience best correlated to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait because it was a mirror image of my own body in order to see what was going on. There is such precession within those machines to give a high-quality image that can be seen as art. Just like in the reading and Video Medicine pt3 how people were recording the use of medicine and technology as a form of art. 

“CT Scan.” Boulder Community Health

  

References 

“Isonoe II.” Art Amy Helene, www.artamyhelene.com/store/sinope.

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.

“CT Scan.” Boulder Community Health, www.bch.org/Our-Services/Imaging/CT-Scan.aspx.

“History of Anatomy.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Apr. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_anatomy.

Ingber, Donald E. “The Architecture of Life.” Scientific American, vol. 278, no. 1, 1998, pp. 48–57., doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0198-48.

Tyson, Peter. “The Hippocratic Oath Today.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 27 Mar. 2001, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html.

Uconlineprogram. Medicine pt1. YouTube. April 21, 2012. Length 12:58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk

Uconlineprogram. Medicine pt2. YouTube. April 21, 2012. Length 6:31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ

Uconlineprogram. Medicine pt3. YouTube. April 22, 2012. Length 21:19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4

Week 3 blog post

Walter Bengamin losing authenticity
” Updating Benjamin, www.uturn.org/Briz/.

This week’s readings, discussed about the connection between art, technology and their interconnections with robotics. The two articles “The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproductions (An Evolving Thesis: 1991-1995) by Douglas Davis and “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” by Walter Benjamin had the same ideology about robots and art. Technology has been shaping the universe, every new invention or idea takes us one step forward to becoming a more modernized society. But there are always two sides a story. According to Walter Benjamin, “Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be.”  Although many people would think its great being able to replicate a piece of art identically, Benjamins argues it losses its most important value, authenticity. 

inkin, Laura and W.D. Richter

Another way we see this desperation of authenticity is with our new form of art digital reproduction, films. Douglas argues “The work of art in the age of digital reproduction is physically and formally chameleon.” I found this interesting because not only have robots affected art in the physical aspect, but it has also affected art in the movie making aspect. We are becoming more immune and not creeped out by having robots in movies. (pt1) One movie that connects to this topic about art and technology is Stealth with Josh Lucas, Jamie Foxx, and Jessica Biel. They are the top pilots in the U.S. Airforce and the movie, starts with adding a fourth wingman to their squadron. Little did they know that it was a robot. Leading the new way of combat for the military. During the movie the robot gets struck by lightning and makes him go crazy. He doesn’t follow orders and starts finding nonexistent targets from the internet. The thing that I find most interesting in this film is they gave the robot a specific human characteristic that no other robot has. The characteristic of memory which he could not delete from his hard drive due to the lightning strike. The more technological findings we have the more society beings to become one with machine and with robots. (pt2) I fine Walter argument to be true that even us humans, as we become one with technology are losing our own sense of authenticity. 

Becoming one with technology
www.thriveglobal.com/stories/28677-remote-work-enhancing-the-human-tech-element-for-success

References

Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Prism Key Press, 2010.

Briz, Nick. “1936 / 2011.” Updating Benjamin, www.uturn.org/Briz/.

Davis, Douglas. “The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction (An Evolving Thesis: 1991-1995).” Leonardo, vol. 28, no. 5, 1995, p. 381., doi:10.2307/1576221.

Hajdini, Vjosa. “Remote Work: Enhancing the Human-Tech Element for Success.” Thrive Global, Thrive Global, 16 Apr. 2018, www.thriveglobal.com/stories/28677-remote-work-enhancing-the-human-tech-element-for-success.

Uconlineprogram. Robotics pt1. YouTube. April 15, 2012. Length 14:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRw9_v6w0ew

Uconlineprogram. Robotics pt2. YouTube. April 15, 2012. Length 4:20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk

Ziskin, Laura, and W. D. Richter. Stealth.

Ziskin, Laura, and W. D. Richter. Stealth. Movie Cover Photograph. 

Event #1: “The gene didn’t get the memo” 

Dr. Navon Background Information 

For my first event, I attended a lecture presentation by Professor Daniel Navon from the UCSD. The presentation was named “The gene didn’t get the memo”, and his main claim regarded how gene mutations are leading to some new conflicts since we have a specific gene classification method in which mutations do not fall under. When I first walked in, I thought I was in the wrong presentation. I was a little confused since the presentation was focused mainly around science and nothing else. As the presentation continued, I was still skeptical, however, I was able to understand the whole presentation due to my experienced background with genetics. I found it interesting how Navon was stating that research is starting to make medical classifications unstable. I can see why he made this comment because the further into research one goes, the more mutations that are found; these mutations are not classifiable hence the title. 

"The gene didn't get the memo" 

Dr. Navon presenting 

Midway through the presentation, I was able to see the connection between literature and art in science. Navon stated that through literature, science and research are able to be expressed for the public's benefit. This led me look back to week one and two’s cultures blogs about the connection between art and science. (Snow) One example he used that I thought connected to my future career as a nurse was the case where a mom of a patient with 22q11.2, an inheritable deletion syndrome, changed her son's course of treatment against the doctors’ orders, through the literature. I felt a very close connection to this story because according to the article from American Nurse Today, as a nurse I will be advocating for my patients in order to provide the best and most effective care plan. It is just amazing what a single research article was able to do for the patient's treatment plan.

Dr. Navon and I 

I believe this presentation will definitely help me to formulate my midterm and final because it is so relatable on a personal level and also on a social level. Science, technology, and literature are very closely related as seen from this presentation. I would definitely recommend this presentation to my fellow classmates even if they are not science majors. It is definitely a great way for some non- science majors to step out of their comfort zone and be able to close that bridge between science and literature.  

References

NAVON, Daniel PhD. “The gene didn’t get the memo”. The Social Genome Knowledge & Politics in a Postgenomic Society, 13 April 2018, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, room 1101, Los Angeles, CA. Presentation

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

“Speak to Be Heard: Effective Nurse Advocacy.” American Nurse Today, 22 Nov. 2017, www.americannursetoday.com/speak-to-be-heard-effective-nurse-advocacy/.

Week Two Blog

Brunelleschi's Experiment.” Khan Academy

After watching the video Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov and reading Flatland by Edwin Abbott, and “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion.” by Henderson Linda Dalrymple it portrayed the connection between mathematics and art. I never thought about the influence mathematics has on art. But after going over the material I can definitely see the impact mathematics has on art. Math is connected with art because many artists have to measure paintings, or measure volumes of paint. An example of this connection, was found in the video with Piero de la Francesca and his paintings which had three principal parts: drawing, proportion, and colouring. His paintings are closely connected to mathematics because he uses “perspective”, this is the  study of vision, allowing the viewer see 3D effect. Another example of this connection is Brunelleschi and how he used the effect of linear perspective which is closely related to mathematics in how the paintings have a never-ending effect due to geometric angels used. Finally, Leonardo De Vinci with Vitruvian Man and how it had perfect symmetry and geometric shapes.

Vitruvian Man.html.

One painting that was very appealing to me was Vitruvian Man by Leonardo De Vinci. I found this to be the most helpful in understanding the concept of mathematics and art because Leonardo  purposely drew the lines to show the symmetry of the painting. Within his art, he was able to show both concepts of math and art. He was one of the first artist who focused mainly on the connection between art and mathematics and this connection has grown ever since. Not only was the symmetry an important factor but it was very eye appealing and relaxing.  

I have learned a great deal about the how artist and scientists use math. Mathematics is involved in the measuring of how much paint an artist should use and in measuring the dosage of antibiotics a doctor should prescribe. Mathematics is used in our daily lives although we might not notice it. I believe that as a result of mathematics the fourth dimension was able to originate. Henderson states, “Even artistic who concentrated on the fourth dimension alone owed something to the non-Euclidean geometries.” Pg. 205  Juxtaposition between mathematics, art, and science, is closely related side by side. I can compare this relationship to a venn-diagram, because they overlap each other and work hand in hand while still being a unique piece of art.

www.lucidchart.com/pages/venn-diagram.

References

Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion.” Leonardo, vol. 17, no. 3, 1984, p. 205., doi:10.2307/1575193.

“Leonardo Da Vinci - Leonardo Da Vinci.” Chamberart.net - Art Gallery, Online Catalog, Paintings for Sale, chamberart.net/en/view/32886-Leonardo da Vinci - Vitruvian Man.html.

“Linear Perspective: Brunelleschi's Experiment.” Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/early-renaissance1/beginners-renaissance-florence/v/linear-perspective-brunelleschi-s-experiement.

uconlineprogram. Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov. YouTube. April 9, 2012. Length. 34.04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg

“What Is a Venn Diagram.” Lucidchart, 15 Mar. 2018, www.lucidchart.com/pages/venn-diagram.

Week 1: Blog Two Cultures 

After reading, “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution” by C. P. Snow and “Third Culture: Being in Between” by Victoria Vesna it opened my eyes to a whole new perspective about literature and science. For example, the author C.P. Snow states that the division between science and literature had happened many years ago because of two causes. One was social and the second one was personal. An example as to how this separation came upon was Snow states, “The honest answer was a that there is, in fact a connection, which literary persons were culpably slow to see… Why some of us turned our backs on the art and tried to back out a new or different way for ourselves.”  This quote justifies the personal separation between science and literature.  Even though both go hand in hand many people on both ends prefer not to go out of there comfort zone.

https://andrewrcameron.com/2011/03/23/genre-no-longer/

If I am being honest, I never noticed the separation between these two professional fields let alone for it to be its own culture. I believe one of the main reasons why I never noticed this separation is because, I am currently a second-year nursing student and my whole life has been focused around the sciences. I have never really bothered coming out of my comfort zone in order to learn more about art and literature.  I came to this realization because I personally have never stepped foot on north campus other than when I was on a tour of UCLA. I got so worked up in my own little bubble and never really notice the beauty of a different perspective like literature or north campus.

http://www.scientificliterature.org

From reading these two articles, it has given me a new mentality seeing the two cultures coming together. If it wasn’t for literature, many of the great research papers would not be published. One thing is for sure, this separation of literature and science is becoming smaller due to one change they both have in common, technology. Technology is taking both of these cultures and bringing them closer together as they both move forward with new innovations that will help bridge Literature and Science together. As a future nurse, I will definitely bring them together because I need literature in order to document patient’s symptoms and make it easier to conclude  a diagnosis using my scientific knowledge.

References

Cameron, Andrew R. “Genre, No Longer”. Blog. March 23, 2011. https://andrewrcameron.com/2011/03/23/genre-no-longer/

“Welcome to Scientific Literautre”. Scientifici Literature, Web. 4/7/2018.

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

“University of California, Los Angeles” Biochemistry UCLA, Web. 4/7/2018.

Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between.” Leonardo 34.2 (2001): 121-25. Web.