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Week 9: Space + Art

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Space has long since been a source of fascination and wonder for humans. Each new development of technology has led to even more space exploration and a greater desire and fascination to know more about this seemingly endless stretch of the unknown. Historically, each new technology designed for space exploration has led to a surge of interest in the field, and I expect this trend to continue as we develop more technologies for space exploration and travel. The development of the telescope in the 17th century fueled a new era of discoveries about the universe, as did the development of space crafts, which allowed first animals, then humans to travel into space. The development of the telescope fueled a new era of discoveries about the universe. http://galileo.rice.edu/images/things/hevelius_telescope.gif In addition to these real life discoveries and events, space and the universe has been a hugely popular topic in pop culture as well. It has b
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Event 4: Delete Me Exhibition (Extra Credit)

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A picture of me, Yuehao Jiang, and Katherine Lee, another student in this class.  On May 18th, I attended the opening of the Design Media Arts MFA students exhibition. The title of the exhibition was "Delete Me", which aimed to explore our digital presence and the permanency of the digital world. There was a wide variety of pieces and interactive activities throughout the show, and I was able to observe and interact with a few of them, including the "Knicker Twister", "Untitled", and "Rumen8: the end". However, the one that drew me the most was the artwork titled "Shanzhai Remix" by Yuehao Jiang. Left - Visitors interacting with the "Rumen8: the end" exhibit.  Right - "Shanzhai Remix" exhibit with the title projected on the wall, along with the sculptures.  There were several elements to this piece, each contributing to the main message and theme behind the entire piece. On one wal
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Week 8: Nanotech + Art

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Nanotechnology is a very unknown field and many people only have a vague understanding of it. http://s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/accounts/54020/images/Nanotechnology.jpg Nanotechnology is a field that I have known about for many years, but had never fully understood what sort of processes, concepts, and ideas were being explored in this field. However, the lectures, readings and resources this week have given me greater insight into the field of nanotechnology. Despite this, the field and advancements in nanotechnology still seem to be very distant and unknown   to most people, including me. This is quite ironic, because nanotechnology has been applied to so many everyday products, such as sunscreen, cosmetics, health supplements, and agrochemicals like fertilizers and pesticides ("Nanotech Jim pt6"). Ray Kurzweil even mentions this in his TED Talk, stating that we are getting closer to this technology, as phones can now fit into our pock
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Event 3: Final Review Study Guide

Saturday, May 27: Compile blog posts and write summary introduction. Examine blog posts and make note of any recurring ideas, themes, or topics. Add unit 9 blog post when finished the following week. Monday, May 29: Brainstorm ideas for final essay and begin research. Possible ideas from recurring ideas, themes and topics from blog posts. Start compiling list of references/sources to use for essay. Begin forming argument and main points of essay. Friday, June 2: Finish outline of essay. Write out thesis and topic sentences for each main point. Have supporting evidence and ideas with appropriate sources linked. Friday, June 9: Finish writing essay and take quiz. Including images, references, and bibliography. Saturday, June 10: Proofread essay and make changes/corrections. Read out loud to catch any grammar issues. Check for smooth flow of ideas. Check for correct MLA referen
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Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

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http://www.freezedryguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/brain-gluten.png The brain has always been a fascinating organ to me. I've learned and studied the structure of neurons, how they send neurotransmitters and other chemical signals, and the various parts of the brain and what function they control. However, it has always baffled me as to how these chemical signals can produce thought, memory, and emotions. Hallucinatory drugs, such as LSD, are simply a combination of chemicals and molecules that have an affect on sending and receiving of neurochemical signals, and yet they can have such a massive and impactful effect on our bodies and the way we perceive things, as shown in Albert Hofmann's accounts of his experience after ingesting LSD. Drugs such as LSD can trigger hallucinations and alter perceptions of everyday life https://trancentral.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/lsd-bike.jpg Time and time again, scientists and art
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Event 2: Jonathan Moore Solo Show

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On April 25, I attended the graduate solo show for Jonathan Moore. It was an interesting experience, and I can't say that I had ever been to an art exhibition quite like it before! The exhibition was designed in a way that the audience was a vital part of the show and had to actively participate in it. The first part of the show was set up very similar to an airport security screening. As we entered, a lady dressed as a security guard had us show her our ID's one at a time, and she proceeded to scrutinize them, comparing the picture on the card with our face and glaring and staring the whole time. After that, we had to put our bags through a makeshift screener, then step through a body scanner. After my bag had gone through the screener, the security guard took the water bottle from my bag and threateningly asked me what the liquid was. When I told him it was water, he questioned me again. All the security guards would yell at people if they were taking to
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Week 6: BioTech + Art

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Biotechnology is a new and exciting field, yet, as was mentioned in the lectures this week, it also has the potential to be very controversial. Working with living things and biological organisms requires the consideration of what life is, as well as the proper treatment of life. Artists working with biotechnology can pioneer advancements in this field to benefit humans, animals, and the environment. Mel Chin's "Revival Field" http://melchin.org/oeuvre/wp-content/uploads/1991/01/revivalfield_web1.jpg In the case of Mel Chin's "Revival Field", his experimentation on using plants to extract heavy metals from contaminated soil led to the development of a low-cost alternative to soil remediation methods. Osamu Shimomura's work on genes has resulted in a new technique for scientists to test the effect of pharmaceutical drugs on the body without surgery, which is highly invasive and more much dangerous. Eduardo Kac and Alba http
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