MedTech + Art

This week's topic is quite interesting because it is a combination of three generally unrelated subjects: Medicine, technology and art. When I was in high school, I was always excited for biology class because it was the only chance to dissect living samples and analyze animals' inside body features. According to the professor Vesna's lecture about the dissection, I found a strong relationship between today's art and human anatomy. Due to the knowledge of how protective and flexible skin is, people developed tattoo that can imprint a permanent mark on one's body. And tattoos had been in fashion for decades, which is a significant mark stone in art history.

Moreover, along with the advancement of technology in medical field, doctors not only can rescue lives but beauty as well. Tumors can be removed surgery and wounds can be sewed by needles; however, now teeth can be reshaped by braces and wrinkles can be prohibited by botox. All these progress give the credits to the cooperation among medicine, technology and art. Our world is increasingly embellished with the beauty such cooperative perfection.

Paints can also serve as another great example to illustrate the relationship between medical development and art. In former days when paints are not invented, pictures and graphs can only be in black and white. Thanks to the medical development, including biochemistry and physics, paints and inks are extremely helpful in modern arts and aesthetic presentations.

Isn't the half of the tree on the right more lovely and lively than the other half on the left?

Sources:

1. Vesna, Victoria. "Lecture 1." Week 4 lectures. University of California Los Angeles Online. Los Angeles, . Address.

2. Facebook, Socialplugin. Muscle with Tattoo. 2012. Photograph. HD WallpaperWeb. 23 Oct 2013. <http://wallpaperhdfree.com/bodybuilding-hd-desktop-wallpapers/muscles-with-tatto/>.

3. Bonigala, Mash. Color vs. Black and White Photography. 2011. Photograph. Fix This PhotoWeb. 23 Oct 2013. <http://www.fixthisphoto.com/color-vs-black-and-white-photography>.
4. Before and after photo. N.d. Photograph. Orthodontic Specialists of Seguin, P.A., Texas. Web. 23 Oct 2013. <http://www.drcolville4braces.com/Portals/0/banda/photos/full_size/case_17.jpg>.
5. Mayo Cliff, Staff. "Botox injections." Mayo Clinic. (2013): n. page. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/botox/MY00078>.

Robotics + Art

When I first saw the topic I couldn't make connection between the two subjects. But after Professor Vesna's lecture, I found it much easier to link industrialization with robots and arts. And there is a particular word to perfectly combine the two concepts: Robotic art, which is any artwork that employs some form of robotic or automated technology. Robotic art can be traced way back to ancient China- the Han Dynasty, such as mechanical orchestra, and other devices such as mechanical toys. And in the western world. An early innovator in the Western world was Hero of Alexandria (c. 10–70 AD), who wrote "On Automatic Theaters, On Pneumatics, and on Mechanics", and is said to have built fully automated theatrical set-pieces illustrating the labors of Hercules among other wonders.



One example I really admire in the presentation of Machico Kasuhara is the Japanese robots. Unlike the ones in America, which primarily focus on industrial benefits, such as more labor forces in the assembly lines, Japanese concentrate more on humane side of robots by creating them to rescue people in natural disasters, or helping elder people, even accomplish tasks that are too dangerous for real humans to do. And the robots look very much like human beings. Such invention not only expedite production but it also eased inhumane challenges.



Modernization is another big factor in the process of industrialization. Technologies are applied along with mathematical and scientific progress. The machines and technical advices, such as cell phones, computers, photoshop, vehicles, are all robotic arts. They make our lives more brilliant and convenient. Newer and more advanced technologies provide us new versions of plenty of necessities in our lives. For example, automobiles. In the late 1885, the first steam-powered vehicle was designed by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot and it could attain speeds of up to 6 km/hour. From ancient perspective, it was a great success in autofield. the first steam-powered vehicle was desinged by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot. However, from current view, the features and quality were incomparable to automobiles nowadays. Let's take a look at the comparison:


Which one do you prefer?







Sources:

1. Wikipedia. "Robotic art." Robotic art at Robogames 2008, San Francisco. 2008. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_art>.

2. "File:RoboArt at Robogames, SF.jpg." (2008): n. page. Web. 17 Oct. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RoboArt_at_Robogames,_SF.jpg>.

3. Kusahara, Machiko. "Professor Machiko Kusahara on japanese robotics." University of California Online. Los Angeles. 17 Oct 2013. Speech.

4. Katz, Leslie. "Japan's latest supermodel--a robot." CNET. (2009): n. page. Web. 17 Oct. 2013. <http://news.cnet.com/japans-latest-supermodel-a-robot/>.

5. Lingeman , Jake. Tesla Model S outsells luxury competition. 2013. Photograph. Autoweek, Los Angeles. Web. 17 Oct 2013. <http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130513/carnews/130519937>.

Math + Art

It is hard to deny the close connection between mathematics and arts. Even before this lecture, I was deeply aware that math and art are cohesively intertwined with each other after reading Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown several times. I admired the hint and codes that Priory of Sion Grand Master Jacques Saunière left for Sophie Neveu and Robert Langdon when he was found in the pose of Vitruvian Man. Hints were chained and became increasingly mysterious so that I found myself wholeheartedly addicted to the decoding process. From this book, I did a comprehensive research about Da Vincis' masterpieces. For example, his 1492 drawing of Vitruvian Man, known worldwide, is a tribute to his study of human proportion. 

Leonardo’s famous drawings of the Vitruvian proportions of a man’s body first standing inscribed in a square and then with feet and arms outspread inscribed in a circle provides an excellent early example of the way in which his studies of proportion fuse artistic and scientific objectives. It is apparent that without application of mathematical principles, such a masterpiece would not meet the world.Moreover, as professor Vesna menetioned in the lecture video: Mathematics is a study of relationship of numbers, operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, etc, I remember how impressed I was when I visited the Sears Tower in downtown Chicago. Here is a picture of it:

The initial idea and the basic structure came from 9 cigarettes, which are put into different heights. Willis Tower contains approximately 4.56 million gross square feet and has a rentable area of 3.8 million square feet. 4.56 million gross square feet would cover 105 acres if spread across one level, or the equivalent of 16 city blocks in Chicago. Every single step of the construction must precisely and accurately based on mathematical calculation and application of physics. The data and numbers on the blueprint must be sophisticatedly verified, including decimals. Only a series of consistent calculation and construction could set Sears tower apart from other buildings from the same era. Mathematics creates unique and stable masterpieces that not only provide efficient amount of working spaces but also embellish the city features.

There are countless examples of how arts involve math, here is a video:

As I always believe, dots create lines, lines create shapes, shapes create graphs, and graphs create beauty. The graphs derive from maths and arts represent beauty.

Sources:

1. SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on The Da Vinci Code.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.
2. Mancuso, Janice. "Leonardo DaVinci."Italianhistorical.com. n. page. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://www.italianhistorical.org/page25.html>.
3. Vesna, Victoria. “Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov.” Cole UC online. Youtube, Fri. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg&feature=player_embedded>.
4. "Building Information: History and Facts." Willis Tower. N.p.. Web. 11 Oct 2013. <http://www.willistower.com/>.
5. aelithou, , dir. Mathematics & art. Web. 11 Oct 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb4OrqPBQyA>.

Two Cultures

Cultural differences and uniqueness

Cultures not only have lingual differences but also traditional differences. Being a bilingual and multicultural college student, I am well aware how different international and national cultures can be. I was born in China and grew up there until eighth grade in middle school, and then I went to Chicago for the first two years of high school, after that I received my high school diploma and UCLA acceptance letter. After living in various places both in China and United States, I deeply learned how different the two countries are in terms of culture and stereotypes, which was mentioned by our professor Vesna. In China, we traditionally share dishes and use chopsticks, yet in U.S., we eat our own food with forks and knives. In Chicago, people generally gather up and spend a cozy time for Thanksgivings and Christmas, and the kids go trick or treating during Halloween, but here in Los Angeles, people regard Thanksgiving as the best time to do shopping instead of eating turkey, and there is no more trick or treating but more universal scary night.

Cultural differences can be found anywhere. Just in my case, I regard UCLA campus has duel cultural: residential and academic atmospheres. The residential atmosphere is always less concentrated on homework and exams than the academic atmosphere. But without any of them, UCLA wouldn’t be complete and brilliant. Here is a link to have a tour around the UCLA campus.

According Bohm, true creativity can only flourish when we cease to think mechanically. Art and science are intertwined with each other. He identifies a trend in art and science away from symbolism towards pure paradigms, which concentrate on relationships and the 'structure of ideas'. Being unique or having distinguished characteristics always make oneself stands out from others. And I believe such a statement is always true in various aspects and different cultures.

Sources:

1. Liu, Yunyun. Some findings about cultural Differences between China and USA. N.d. Photograph. People Development and MoreWeb. 3 Oct 2013. <http://yunyunliu.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/some-findings-about-cultural-differences-between-china-and-usa/>.

2. Carma, . The Impact of Uniqueness. 2010. Photograph. n.p. Web. 4 Oct 2013. <http://livinglifebydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/oneLightOn.jpg>.

3. Bohm, D. "On Creativity." JSTOR. 137.149 (1986): n. page. Print.

4. Welcome to UCLA!. 2010. Film. 4 Oct 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1e11lsrSvw>.

5. Vesna, Victoria. "Intro." Two Cultures. UCLA. Los Angeles. Sept 2013. Lecture.