Event 3 | Art + Brain: Dr. Mark Cohen | Juan Larson

For my third event this quarter, I attended Dr. Mark Cohen's seminar on art and the brain. His seminar focused on the neurological and psychological capabilities of the brain and various feats of engineering and science that have allowed us to take a deeper look into the cognitive abilities of the brain. Dr. Cohen also engaged in an active questions and answers segment where he answered various questions from attendees. 

Dr. Cohen's presentation focused on the various cognitive abilities of the brain and different forms of technology that have been used to analyze the brain. Dr. Cohen discussed the capabilities and uses of MRIs and fMRIs and the types of valuable information that they provide. One of the topics that I found to be the most interesting was taking a look at how the brain processes visual information. What I especially interesting were the shortcuts the brain takes to digest and interpret visual information faster while still maintaining high degrees of accuracy.

I already knew a lot of the information presented during the seminar from previous experience in psychology and biology classes, but it was very interesting to see the scientific information that I had previously learned being applied to the world of art. I enjoyed learning about how our brains interpret and process the world around us.

I would highly recommend this event to my peers as I personally found it to be the most interesting event that I have attended this quarter. This event has made me excited to learn more about sensory organs and cognitive abilities.

Works Cited

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. “Neuroculture.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience, vol. 10, no. 11, 2009, pp. 815–821., https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2736. 

Bateson, Gregory. Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity. Bantam, 1988. 

Jung, Carl. “The Spiritual Problem of Modern Man.” Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 10: Civilization in Transition, 2014, pp. 74–94., https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400850976.74. 

Albu, Christina. “Planetary Re-Enchantment: Human-Animal Entanglements in Victoria Vesna’s Octopus Brainstorming.” Cristina Albu - CMA Journal - Simon Fraser University, Simon Fraser University, https://www.sfu.ca/cmajournal/issues/issue-ten--enchantment--disenchantment--reenchantment/cristina-albu.html?fbclid=IwAR1twyrqbeKqNrJSUXSihLVGvX_D9ARndxDv3USnw2pTENE_iXHJtIo8v54. 

Varela, Francisco J., et al. The Embodied Mind: Cognitive Science and Human Experience. MIT Press, 2017.

Week 9 | Space + Art | Juan Larson

This week's lectures and supplemental resources focused on the connection between art and space. This week's material seemed to be the most intuitive material that we have covered thus far. There are many examples of art inspired by space, and there are even whole communities dedicated to depicting astronomy in artistic and creative ways. I personally have always found space to intrinsically be very artistic and creative and I find a lot of the science involving space and its exploration to be fascinating,

(https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2797/2022/03/space.jpg)

One thing I found very interesting was UCLA's involvement with the US Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation to establish the Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF) research program. I thought that it was very interesting to learn about such a sophisticated program here at our campus. It really drives home the idea that art is all around us and influences things all around our lives. It is also very interesting to be going to a school that is actively involved in such advanced and groundbreaking science.

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/63/67/ab/6367ab20e21fddf3cf7cd20ee08eb402.jpg)

I found this module to be very interesting in the sense that it has so much to offer. Space can be seen as nearly infinite and could potentially provide inspiration for the future of technological and even social development. Improvements in technological development have resulted in the beginning steps of terraforming other planets, an idea once thought to be pure science fiction. As our technology continues to develop and draw inspiration from art, we can only wonder where it will head next.

(https://sociable.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/galaxy-telescope-1280x720.jpg)

Works Cited

“Arctic Perspective Initiative.” ARCTIC PERSPECTIVE INITIATIVE, API, http://arcticperspective.org/.

“Basic Plasma Science Facility.” Home | Basic Plasma Science Facility, UCLA, https://plasma.physics.ucla.edu/.

“Building.” KSEVT, Cultural Center of European Space Technologies, https://www.ksevt.eu/about.

Holmes, Brian. “Coded Utopia.” Continental Drift, Continental Drift, 18 May 2009, https://brianholmes.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/coded-utopia/.

“The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group.” Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers, The Leonardo Space Art Project, https://spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html. 

Week 8 | Nanotechnology + Art | Juan Larson

This week, lectures and material focused on the connection between nanotechnology and art. I found this week's material particularly interesting because I do not have much exposure to or experience with nanotechnology. For me, nanotechnology has been an idea from science fiction that does not really seem physically possible or attainable. However, through engaging in this week's material, I have learned that nanotechnology is quite different from what I had initially imagined and is actually far more practical and realistic than I thought.

 

(https://149695847.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Nanotechnology.jpg)

I found the Art in the Age of Nanotechnology art exhibition to be very eye-opening and helped me understand what nanotechnology would look like in real life. It was fascinating to see what nanotechnology is like when the only past experience I have with the subject is science fiction. Seeing real-life applications of what was previously only science fiction for me was a really interesting experience that lead to me wanting to see how other technologies which were considered to be limited to only science fiction might come to life in the future. It was almost like seeing science fiction come to life.

(https://sites.dartmouth.edu/dujs/files/2009/02/membrane_big_cmyk.jpg)

I also enjoyed reading "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact & fiction in the construction of a new science" and learning more about examples of nanotechnology being used in the world today. I found it interesting to learn about what could be considered the frontier of science and how art serves as an inspiration and driving force behind the development of these technologies. 

(https://www.rmit.edu.au/content/dam/rmit/rmit-images/news/2017/Apr/Illuminating_fusion_of_nanotechnology_and_art/An%20illuminating%20intersection%20of%20technology%20and%20art_L_1220.jpeg.transform/rendition-750x500/image.jpg)

Works Cited

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. “The Nanoneme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact and Fiction in the Construction of a New Science.” Technoetic Arts, vol. 1, no. 1, 2003, pp. 7–24., https://doi.org/10.1386/tear.1.1.7/0.

“John Curtin Gallery.” Art in the Age of Nanotechnology A Perth International Arts Festival Exhibition, Art.Base, https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology#10.

Kurzweil, Ray. “A University for the Coming Singularity.” Ray Kurzweil: A University for the Coming Singularity | TED Talk, TED Talk, Feb. 2009, https://www.ted.com/talks/ray_kurzweil_a_university_for_the_coming_singularity?language=en.

“Making Stuff.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/making-stuff/#making-stuff-smaller.

Rothemund, Paul. “DNA Folding, in Detail.” Paul Rothemund: DNA Folding, in Detail | TED Talk, TED Talk, Feb. 2008, https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_rothemund_dna_folding_in_detail?language=en. 

Event 2 | This Mortal Plastik | Juan Larson

For my second event this quarter, I attended Jess Irish's viewing and discussion of her documentary "This Mortal Plastik." The presentation included a viewing of the documentary followed by a questions and answers section in which Irish explained a lot of her inspiration and reasoning behind her documentary. 

The documentary was focused on the use of plastic and its damage to the environment. One of the main types of plastics discussed was single-use plastics, whose use has dramatically and drastically increased over the past few decades. The documentary emphasized the lack of disposal of plastics which has resulted in an accumulation of plastic waste and the negative consequences this has had on the environment and ecology.

The documentary and supplemental discussion of it provided me with a lot of insight into how we have exploited the earth's resources and have created one of our own biggest problems. In exchange for greater convenience, we have sacrificed the environment and caused major damage to ecosystems, wildlife, and even other humans. 

One of the things that I found the most interesting was how Irish's main inspiration for investigating more about plastics and making her documentary was her daughter's interest in whales. It really demonstrated to me how just about anyone can get involved in issues like these as long as they are willing to put in the necessary work and effort. 

Works Cited

Jung, Carl. “The Spiritual Problem of Modern Man.” Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 10: Civilization in Transition, 2014, pp. 74–94., https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400850976.74. 

Albu, Christina. “Planetary Re-Enchantment: Human-Animal Entanglements in Victoria Vesna’s Octopus Brainstorming.” Cristina Albu - CMA Journal - Simon Fraser University, Simon Fraser University, https://www.sfu.ca/cmajournal/issues/issue-ten--enchantment--disenchantment--reenchantment/cristina-albu.html?fbclid=IwAR1twyrqbeKqNrJSUXSihLVGvX_D9ARndxDv3USnw2pTENE_iXHJtIo8v54. 

Varela, Francisco J., et al. The Embodied Mind: Cognitive Science and Human Experience. MIT Press, 2017. 

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. “Neuroculture.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience, vol. 10, no. 11, 2009, pp. 815–821., https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2736. 

Bateson, Gregory. Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity. Bantam, 1988. 

 

Week 7 | Neuroscience + Art | Juan Larson

One thing that really caught my attention from this week's material was Frazzetto and Anker's "Neuroculture." I found it very interesting and insightful to learn and read about neuroculture and how it plays a major role in emotions, decision-making, and general psychology. The idea of neuroculture is what intertwines and connects the concepts of neuroscience and art and helps develop a sense of social and ethical awareness of the implications of neuroscience.

(https://www.ppd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/neuroscience-shutterstock_1700148913-1200x600.jpg)

Another thing that I found to be really interesting was how neuroculture is not only a conceptual idea but can be implemented into products and problem-solving metrology. This gives neuroculture a broader and larger impact and potential as it is able to influence the world in a wider variety of ways. The wide array of possibilities really highlights the broad application of art and how art is capable of influencing a wide scope of scientific ideas.

(https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/assets/Image/2020/AoN/EP3.jpeg)

Previously, I have taken a neuroscience seminar that focused on the depictions of neuroscience in science fiction movies and art. One of the things we learned about what how both science fiction was based on real technology and how real technology has taken inspiration from works of science fiction. I feel like this expands on what we have been learning this week as we have been going over the relationship and connectedness between neuroscience and art. I would be interested to learn more about this in the future as neuroscience plays a large role in human behavior and psychology so seeing the influences that art has on neuroscience could help shed a lot of light on how the human mind works in general.

(http://www.laurabundesen.com/uploads/3/7/3/7/37370125/s481020927774789797_p166_i30_w640.jpeg)

Work Cited

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. “Neuroculture.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience, vol. 10, no. 11, 2009, pp. 815–821., https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2736. 

Jung, Carl. “The Spiritual Problem of Modern Man.” Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 10: Civilization in Transition, 2014, pp. 74–94., https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400850976.74. 

Albu, Christina. “Planetary Re-Enchantment: Human-Animal Entanglements in Victoria Vesna’s Octopus Brainstorming.” Cristina Albu - CMA Journal - Simon Fraser University, Simon Fraser University, https://www.sfu.ca/cmajournal/issues/issue-ten--enchantment--disenchantment--reenchantment/cristina-albu.html?fbclid=IwAR1twyrqbeKqNrJSUXSihLVGvX_D9ARndxDv3USnw2pTENE_iXHJtIo8v54. 

Varela, Francisco J., et al. The Embodied Mind: Cognitive Science and Human Experience. MIT Press, 2017. 

Bateson, Gregory. Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity. Bantam, 1988. 

Week 6 | Biotechnology + Art | Juan Larson

(https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Biotechnology-Salaries.jpg)

This week during lectures and reading assignments we focused on the relationship between biotechnology and art. Personally, I found this to be the most interesting topic that we have discussed this quarter. As a Human Biology and Society major, a big focus of my major is biotechnology and its roles and implications in society so learning about biotechnology while maintaining an open mind to learn about the influence of art was both very insightful and awakening. 

(https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/blue-chromosome-dna-and-gradually-glowing-flicker-light-matter-when-picture-id1297146235?b=1&k=20&m=1297146235&s=170667a&w=0&h=vUyHfisjnfzyhzeZvYzt23iaHSEl6UkpoiFctK4BMbc=)

One specific thing I found very interesting was taking a look and Joe Davis and his work. I was fascinated with how he would take inspiration and influence from art to construct biotechnology designed to solve issues in the medical and scientific fields. While studying and learning for the Human Biology and Society major, I have learned a lot about various types of forms of biotechnology and how they cover a broad range of designs and purposes. Despite that, I still find it very amazing to learn about how art can be incorporated into the use and creation of biotechnology.

(https://www.cusd80.com/cms/lib/AZ01001175/Centricity/Domain/10499/A-Representational-Image-Biotechnology_jpg.gif)

I also found this week's focus on the microscale to be very interesting. A lot of biotechnology is focused on tackling issues that arise on a very small scale and as such, we took a lot of looks at various connections between art and biotechnology all the ways down to a molecular level. I felt like this subject was also the most relatable to my other classes and the material that I have been and am still learning. This made the subject more personal and interesting to me.

Work Cited

Davis, Joe. “Scientist? Artist. Pirate! Who Is Joe Davis? - Youtube.” YouTube, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GkZt00Qics.

Chin, Mel. “Revival Field.” Revival Field – Mel Chin, http://melchin.org/oeuvre/revival-field/.

Vanouse, Paul. “Suspect Inversion Center.” Suspect Inversion Center (Sic), http://www.paulvanouse.com/sic.html.

Zaretsky, Adam. “Emutagen.” Electronic Mutagenesis, http://emutagen.com/index.html.

Kac, Eduardo. “GFP Bunny.” GFP Bunny, http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor.