Week 2- Math + Art

The subjects of math and art as well as science can be broken down on individual levels and generally are. However this week, I began to see the connection they all have and that they really cannot be completely separated. These three components all derive our perception of the world we live in. We constantly measure and calculate dimensions based on our own perspectives through mathematics, science and art (week 2 lecture video).  Victoria stated in this weeks lecture that math is “the study of relationships of numbers.” This is a simple definition, which overlaps in almost every area of life. We cannot function without numbers. For example, “math drives reality through computers” and now a days we can hardly live without computer technology (Intro video for week 2).

            One example I found interesting was Robert Lang’s origami. “Origami, like music, permits both composition and performance as expressions of the art.” (http://www.langorigami.com/science/ math/math.php). Folding and measuring lines, lengths and patterns quickly become a math problem and the outcome is a piece of art. For the cardinal, color and size are huge aspects, which Lang incorporated in order for the natural eye to recognize the object as a bird.

            The juxtaposition of math, science, and art is all based on perspective and in my own life I see this relationship on a daily basis through music. As I mentioned Lang’s connection, the composition of music is math while the performance of it is art.

Links to photos

1.http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Music+and+Mathematics&view=detailv2&&&id=EDE2FA8266878EBEDC61F8588752EF22AB0059D2&selectedIndex=0&ccid=YuiKq2O%2b&simid=608013558272427948&thid=JN.xJHpoY86zmMNgBmACUr4HA&ajaxhist=0

2. http://www.jaydax.co.uk/lastsupper/lastsupper.htm

3. http://www.langorigami.com/art/art.php

References

Math Intro. By Victoria Vesna. YouTube. Uconlineprogram, 11 Apr. 2015. Web. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHiL9iskUWM&feature=player_embedded

Vesna, Victoria. “Mathematics.” Lecture. CoLE DESMA 9. Web. <https://cole.uconline.edu/~UCLA-201209-12F-DESMA-9-1#l=Week-2-Assignment/id4287887>.

Rosenthal, Jeffrey. “The Magical Mathematics of Music.” Plus.maths.org. Plus Magazine, 11 Apr. 2015. Web. <http://plus.maths.org/content/magical-mathematics-music>.

Wikipedia contributors. “Leonardo da Vinci.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 Apr. 2015. Web.

Wikipedia contributors. “A Beautiful Mind.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 Apr. 2015. Web. 

Lang, Robert J. “Origami Mathematics.” Origami Mathematics. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2015. <http://www.langorigami.com/science/ math/math.php>.

Week 1- Two Cultures

                                               

Mona+Lisa.jpg 

 The two cultures of Art and Science are disciplines that I would have never put together but after reading and listening to this weeks course material I see where the division came from but also see how they complement each other. The video for lecture 1 part 2 stood out to me about stereotypes of the “mad scientist” and “mad artist.” The scientist growing up was always Albert Einstein and the artwork was always Mona Lisa. Stereotypes are deeply engrained in society and used by all on an unconscious level.

Albert_Einstein_Head.jpg

My name is Jessy MacArthur and I am a Communication Studies major. Growing up and all throughout high school I considered myself a “science” person and not an “artsy” one. I loved Honors Anatomy and hated painting. I was an athlete not an artist. Upon arriving at UCLA, I was a physiological science major and thought I wanted to study something along the lines of nutrition because it is relevant to my gymnastics career. However, I quickly realized upper division science classes here are not for me. This eventually led me to the subject of communications where I directly see art and science influencing each other by working side by side. Art and science is seen in athletics, especially the sport of gymnastics. 

Science and art as well as the third culture of technology, all play a crucial role in how we behave and communicate in society as well as live daily life. For me, I am a second year on the gymnastics team here at UCLA, which is a huge part of my daily life. In gymnastics science and art work together to make up a safe and visually exciting sport. Science makes flipping and twisting on a four-inch beam possibly on a technical level and art makes the dance and routine aspect. Gymnastics is both powerful (vault & floor) and graceful (beam & bars) which make it unique among female sports. Science and art are on display in the gymnastics world to create an exciting and competitive atmosphere. Two cultures collide in gymnastics as well as in communication studies. 

References

Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New  York:     Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.

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

Kelly, Kevin. "The Third Culture" Science 13 February 1998: Vol. 279 no. 5353 pp. 992-993. Web.

The Mona Lisa. Digital image. Mona Lisa. Musee Du Louvre, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mona_Lisa.jpg

Albert Einstein. Digital image. Wikipedia. Oren Jack Turner, 1947. Web. 02 Apr. 2015. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Albert_Einstein_Head.jpg