Week 9 - Space + Art

More than thousands of years ago, the time when technology was still premature, artists and writers already started dreaming about the universe, the mysterious space. They drew paintings and wrote novels about this unexplored and unknown black and blue sky. These artworks definitely fueled the imagination of people about the space, which in turns fueled the development of space exploration. I remembered that an astronaut as part of the Leonardo Space Art Project once said, "The space age was possible because for centuries the cultural imagination was fed by artists, writers, writers, and musicians who dreamed of human activities in space." Indeed, during the time of Space Race between the U.S. and Russia, people's curiosity and hunger for space were fed by some famous TV shows and films, like the Star Trek, which was and is a huge pop hit for scientists and engineers alike. 

Enterprise

Sci-Fi movies and comics continue to ignite millennials' curiosity of the universe. The Avatar, directed by James Cameron, has been a huge hit to the general public because it imagines a life in the space traveling age. Unlike paintings or novels, movies like Avatar show audience vivid images about what is beyond the darkness and how people can live among different planets and even systems. 

Avatar- Star colonization

Moreover, like what Carl Sagan depicts, "The Earth is a pale blue dot and our planet is a lonely speck in the lonely great enveloping cosmic dark", new space movies and artworks keep people dreaming about going further and deeper into the cosmos. It is no doubt that space art triggers the continuing development of space technology. Giant companies like Google and SpaceX also never stop imagining the possibilities of colonizing other planets.

Mars city

Finally, align with what Professor Vesna says, this week's topic gives a perfect conclusion to how art gives rise to all kinds of technologies. Technology without art is like a man without imagination. Before human ever invent anything, there must have been some kinds of art form that ignites the passion and will to discover and invent. Up till now, I fully recognize that it is art, not limiting to paintings and writings but also films, comics and any other art forms, that catalyzes this world to become a better place. In the future, I would like to appreciate more contribution that art makes to the development of any kinds of technologies.

Week 8: Nanotechnology + Art

I still remember how I was amazed by some mysterious and incredible technology that rebuilds everything from scratch in some sic-fi movies. And I know now it is nanotechnology, which connects chemistry, mechanical engineering, biology and physics. When people are looking at the sky and thinking how we can get to the Moon or the Mars, some people are looking at the "invisible" things on their lab tables. These nanotechnology scientists and artists are opening up a whole new "world", a tiny small world that is different from everything we have known or imagined before. Old science rules or ideologies can no longer fully apply to this field. We need new insights and innovation in order to maximize the benefits that nanotechnology can bring to our lives.

Manipulated Molecules

Nanotechnology can have profound impact to a large range of things. For example, nanotechnology can turn block, glove and even glass to super "water-proof", which is not only water-proof but also oil-proof and mud-proof. When I saw the video about how nanotechnology transform the properties of things in daily life,  I dropped my jaw. It is incredibly magical.

Left-normal glove; Right-super glove modified by nanotechnology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEH6tDLKcVU

Moreover, what will happen if nanotechnology meets robots? The answer is nanorobot! But why is it different from normal robot? First of all, it is incredibly small, which means you can even see it. Due to the tiny size, it can be put into human bodies to help cure cancers and clean up the blood. It is the future of advanced medical solution. Secondly, there are so many types of nanorobot, more than you can think of. It can be used in warfare, hospital, school, factory, and even farm land with different functionality.

Various types of nanorobot

However, nanotechnology can also be controversial in terms of how people utilize it. It can fall into the hands of terrorists and become weapons of massive chemical attacks. In short, as long as we make more good out of the bad of nanotechnology, it is worthy to explore and develop this technology and make our world a better place.


Work cited:

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May. 2015. <http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=0AF1EFEE1A90856EC5DB09D1E5AA8C79?doi=10.1.1.127.8516&rep=rep1&type=pdf>.

“Art in the Age of Nanotechnology.” Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May. 2015. <https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Links:

Nova: Making Things Smaller

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/making-stuff.html#making-stuff-smaller

New nanoparticles make blood clots visible

http://nanowiki.info/#%5B%5BNew%20nanoparticles%20make%20blood%20clots%20visible%5D%5D

Week 7 Neuroscience + Art

It's interesting to see how neuroscience and art connect with each other since neuroscience studies the brain, which is the object that perceives art. When we look at an object, like a drawing or a photograph, any feelings that we have for the object, either happy or sad, are activated because of the neurons in our brains. Essentially, our brains determine how we understand everything including art. That's why some scientists regard the brain as the ultimate secret of the universe. The story of trying to find out the answer of this ultimate secret began thousands of years ago, when Aristotle still believed that the heart was the key of human thought and emotion. Years after, phrenology became a hot subject of studying brain's functionality. More and more studies about the brain start and it is striking to see their results.

Phrenological chart of brain's functionality.

To start with, brainbow is breathtakingly beautiful. Scientists use fluorescent proteins to flag individual neurons with distinctive colors. It is not only aesthetic, but also essential in the process of studying connectivity of neurons. This example illustrates that people can indeed connect neuroscience and art.

Aesthetic brainbow.

Second, virtual reality (VR) is one of the emerging technologies that catches people's eyes. The idea is similar to what Mark Cohen does in the video. However, unlike the people who wear those goggles that can invert the world in the video, people who wear VR devices can actually immerse in a virtual world that is created by designers and developers. For example, instead of waiting in line in order to take a close look at Mona Lisa in the Louvre, people wearing VR devices can see the masterpiece right in front of their eyes. We can perceive VR as a hallucination that technology does to the brain. Some people worry that VR devices can make people forget about the real world. However, it is not like LSD that can potentially damage the physical aspect of the brain. 

Imagination of future VR device.

In conclusion, neuroscience and art cannot be separated. The study of brain will eventually find out the secrets of how we understand art and the world. Moreover, the more neuroscience advances, the more art and neuroscience will connect with each other.

Work Cited

Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious / Memory (Part 1).” Lecture. 17 May 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DLVQIwOn7o8>

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. “Conscious / Memory (Part 2).” 17 May 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xlg5wXHWZNI>

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. “Conscious / Memory (Part 3).” 17 May 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E5EX75xoBJ0>

Cohan, Mark. Lecture. 17 May 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eDq8uTROeXU>

Landau, Elizabeth. “What the brain draws from: Art and neuroscience.” CNN. N.p., 15 2015. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/health/art-brain-mind/index.html>.

Week6 BioTech + Art

Among all we learn this quarter so far, biotechnology is one of the most controversial topics to discuss. Ever since scientists discovered DNA, people have been wondering whether we can transform life and even create life. More and more scientists devote their time into experimenting how modifications of genome can change the behaviors and traits of different species. Moreover, artists have started to combine the good and bad of advanced biotechnology into their artworks. However, I believe there should be some limits for artists who actually do artworks by changing existing life formulas and posing potential danger to the world.

Can human discover the ultimate secret of life eventually?

According to my personal experience, genetically modified food can be bought in many supermarkets in China. But Chinese people are questioning the safety of genetically modified food though they are usually cheaper than organic food. The controversy of GMO (genetically modified organism) has been discussed for a long time and much need to be done in order to make people aware of the potential harm that GMO could cause. Some artists even make caricature that illustrates people turn into zombie after eating large amount of GMO. The controversial GMO will continue to be the central discussion of how people should react to the advanced biotechnology. Indeed, the existing hunger problem in the world prompts scientists to experiment more possible way to increase the yield of food.

People have the right to know whether they are eating GMO.

Incredibly, artists like Eduardo Kac is the pioneer of transgenic art, a term coined by Eduardo Kac to describe a new art form by using genetic engineering techniques to create unique living beings. His artwork truly amazed the general public originally. It almost seemed like he created an entire new creature. Biotechnology gives people the power to alter and even overthrow the order of nature. It is enchanting, like the Pandora's Box, however dangerous. Scientists and artists in this field should slow down their progress and take a moment to think about the consequences before trying to open the "box" without caution. Before "Creativity breeds creativity", we would like to make sure that this creativity will not destroy the world.

Eduardo Kac with his artwork: Edunia and transgenic bunny

In conclusion, I believe that the society should be cautious of the speed of the development of biotechnology, one of the most unique studies that is greatly different than other sciences. The fruit of this technology seems attractive to many people. Nonetheless, it is well-known that science is a double-edged sword and it is more applicable to biotechnology though it might not be apparent right now.


Work cited:

Kim Slawson. "Eduardo Kac's GFP Bunny, a Work of Transgenic Art, or, It's Not Easy Being Green". Web. Nov 19 2000. http://www.ekac.org/slawson%203.html

Levy, Ellen K. "Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications." Rpt. in Context Providers: Conditions of Meaning in Media Arts. Chicago: n.p., 2011.

Kelty, Chris. "Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?" Outlaws, Hackers, Victorian Gentlemen. N.p., 2010. Web. 8 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. DESMA 9. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.