Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

Body works exhibit

Before this week's lesson, I hadn’t ever thought about the ways in which medicine, and our understanding of the human body along with modern medical technology, could interact with art. Yet thinking about the importance of the human body within art, it makes perfect sense. I was particularly struck by the discussion of anatomy in lecture, and how the Gray’s Anatomy has been such a huge influence on artists for so many years. The Body World exhibit and Visible Human Project are both examples of how new perspectives on the anatomy of the human body continue to fascinate and inspire us. The human body is in itself “a work of art”. 

A standard MRI scanner

Beyond anatomy, I also found it fascinating the way in which medical technology has influenced our understanding of the human body, and subsequently, the art we create. Yet even beyond the discoveries medical technology has created, there are also some interesting pieces of art inspired directly by, or even created using medical technology. Casini’s piece on the MRI offers a very interesting artistic view of Magnetic Resonance Imaging technology. In his own words, “Eventually, overwhelmed by MRI’s sound, I experienced both the rhythm of MRI and the creative possibilities that it holds.” This shows direct artistic inspiration drawn from medical machinery. I found another very interesting example online of art created using medical radiology and x-rays. Beyond there medical applications, these technologies offer new creative potential, and new ways to view ourselves and the world around us from a new creative lens. 

Patterns can be found everywhere in nature

I think the Ingber reading on the architecture of life interested me the most, as it really addressed the building blocks of all of nature rather than focusing on just the human body. While medical technology has taught us a lot about ourselves, I think it has also helped us understand more about the world we live in, and the universe that surrounds us.“That nature applies common assembly rules is implied by the recurrence—at scales from the molecular to the macroscopic—of certain patterns, such as spirals, pentagons and triangulated forms.” This is a truly fascinating notion. It not only presents an artistically inspiring idea, but also tells us about the building blocks of not only our own bodies, but the building blocks of everything that surrounds us. 

References:

Brooks, Katherine. "12 Famous Drawings Reveal How Artists Interpret The Naked Human Body." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

Ingber, Donald E. "The Architecture of Life." Scientific American 278.1 (1998): 48-57. Web.

Moore, Wendy. "Exhibition Hopes to Give Gray’s Anatomy Artist His Proper Due." BMJ : British Medical Journal. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

"MRISafety.com - Info." MRISafety.com - Info. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

"Radiology Art: X-ray Art." Radiology Art: X-ray Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

Week 3: Robotics and Art

Robotics have not only become an increasingly popular topic within the arts but have also become readily used in the creation of the arts. The theme of robots and robotic intelligence is one of the most popular topics within fiction and science fiction. In fact, the medium of science fiction is an art form in literature, cinema, and interactive entertainment that is in many ways built on the interaction of robotics and art in particular. As we learned in our lecture, when the industrial revolution began in society, the idea of the “robot” took root, first thought of as a machine that replaced the worker. The term coined by Capek fueled the growth of wild ideas in the realm of science and art. Even before the robot even physically developed, artists and writers envisioned countless ideas of what the robot looked like and what it was capable of. 

Another interesting interaction point between robotics and art is in music. An interesting example discussed in lecture was the creation of Gordon Pask. His cybernetic musical accompaniment machine in many ways resembles modern day software that “DJ’s” use to produce and perform their music. Many of the elements found in electronic music borrow from robotics and sounds that can only be generated using a computer and digital sound synthesis. In fact, most of modern day pop music relies more on the use of computers in its performance and creation than it does on actual musicians. 

In many ways, the modern technology industry, as characterized by the stereotypical California “startup”, and “silicon valley”, represents an interesting meeting point between robotics/computing, and art. It’s a new movement that in many ways represents a technological revolution much like the industrial revolution and ‘futurist’ movement discussed in lecture. The apps, and products being developed in these small companies are entirely driven by machine and computer technology, yet in many ways rely on artistic creativity in their success. The most successful products often represent the best of both worlds in terms of cutting edge technology, but new and creative (artistic) ideas. A great example would be social media applications that implement creative means of sharing information and even art with the world. Social media has become one of the largest platforms for sharing art, yet it is entirely built on modern computing, and machine technology. 

Week 2: Math + Art

Music is an art form that often incorporates mathematical concepts. The 12 tone equal tempered scale that is used in all forms of western music that we know is based on mathematics. In fact, the notes we used in music prior to the 16th century were based on the natural overtone harmonic series, and much like the mathematical progression discussed in Henderson’s article, musicians mathematically divided the octave into 12 equal steps to create the “equal-tempered” scale.

Beyond the notes we use in contemporary music, mathematics have played a critical role in musical composition for many centuries. In fact, the golden ratio we discussed in lecture has been implemented as a concept in composition by some very notable composers. Rostropovich, a world famous Russian concert cellist has extensively researched the Bach Cello Suites, and found that Bach uses the golden ratio in his musical phrases. This may explain why the cello suites are considered some of the best composing and best use of phrases and form. There’s an organic flow to the music, and this relates to the way in which we the golden ratio manifests itself in nature, in math, and art. 

Some composers also incorporate the fibonacci sequence in their composition. It is a powerful way to conceptualize musical form and phrasing. It isn’t mere coincidence that some of the worlds most respected and renowned composers have also been scholars in the areas of math, philosophy, and physical sciences. And while music is a great example of how mathematical and scientific concepts are implemented and play a critical role in the sound and structure of the art form, the sciences are connected to many other art forms. Painters implement mathematics in their work all of the time. Escher is a great example of an artist who manipulated images in a mathematical way to create some incredible art. Beyond Escher, there are countless other painters who implement scientific and mathematical concepts in their work.

Week 1: Two Cultures

Snow’s concept of two cultures resonates with me on a personal level as I constantly deal with two cultures in my academic career. I’m a jazz composition major also pursuing a second major in cognitive science. This very much parallels the art vs. science distinction outlined in Vesna’s Toward a Third Culture. Yet, much like snow describes, I feel that I’ve found a way to bridge the gap that sits between the culture of science and the arts. 

Brain activity associated with playing and creating music has been  a popular area of scientific research in recent years.

I feel that music in particular is an art form that can actively bridge the gap between the two cultures. Particularly with the growing sophistication of sound technology, on a technical level, musicians are becoming more and more in tune with aspects of physical sciences in crafting synthetic sounds and creating unique sonic aesthetics. Acoustics are a pivotal part of music performance, but are entirely based in principles of physics. These are but just a few examples of the bridge between cultures and the notion of a ‘third culture’ being formed as music and science meet.

Sound engineers work closely with computer technology and are expected to have a solid understanding of the physical/scientific properties of sound.

As a serious musician and composer, I often apply some of the concepts that I’ve acquired in studying the science of the brain and its mechanisms towards my creative flow and musical practice. In my daily academic life, I feel that this is one of the closest parallel to the concept of two cultures. Studying these two disciplines offers a very interesting combination of cultures, and I feel that the concepts discussed in the readings and lectures this week have pinpointed some of the ways in which the relationship can be described.

Acoustics are a pivotal part of any music performance space, and are based around both an artistic understanding of what sounds best, as well as a scientific understanding of the physics of sound.

Sources: 

• Kelly, Kevin. "The Third Culture." The Third Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. Feb. 1998

• Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. New York: Cambridge UP, 1959. Print.

• "This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain On Music." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015.

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

• "What Does It Take to Be a Recording Engineer? - ArtistshouseMusic.". N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015.