Week 4 MedTech and Art

Medical technologies are increasingly accessible in our daily lives, among them; the growing trend of plastic surgeries is particularly alarming. Modern plastic surgeries were developed to care for soldiers that suffered disfiguring facial injuries during the First World War; the intention of facial surgeries was performed to correct functional impairments with the hopes of sending them back to their normal lives (Chambers). However, plastic surgeries right now are cosmetic surgeries that aim to change individuals’ physical appearance.

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In 2007, nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. and the numbers are growing higher and higher each year (Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). Women who had surgeries hope that they can achieve what is deemed the perfect facial feature and body image. However, this so-called perfection is merely unrealistic ideals of beauty and gender roles purported by media, thus making women feel insecure about their body.

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French artist Orlan underwent nine plastic surgery operations in the 1990s to change her face into historically famous paintings and sculptures of women (Jeffries). Orlan argues that her intention was not to appear younger or better but to disrupt the standards of beauty based on the Occidental culture (Frank). Indeed, Orlan’s art work has powerful effects in fighting female objectification and beauty norms.

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/276161/slide_276161_2011579_free.jpg

When we talk about plastic surgeries, South Korea’s surgical culture can definitely top the list. Recent study found that one in five South Korean women has had some form of cosmetic surgery, which is the highest rate of cosmetic surgery per capita in the world (Stevenson, Whitelocks). This number is alarming because of the underlying message that is being spread around the globe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni-Yjy9WqHE

According to the modern version of the Hippocratic Oath, a doctor “will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism” (Tyson). But in fact, doctors profit from performing sophisticated surgeries that can earn them more money. These procedures are often unnecessary and strayed from the original goal of repairing facial deformities. In all, the technological advancement in the medical field has both pros and cons. On the one hand they can improve women’s confidence about their appearance, but at the same time they are used by doctors to make profit and lost their sense of individuality in the process. 

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/154/e/c/plastic_surgery_by_dominamoon-d3hz43l.jpg

Works Cited

Chambers, J; P. Ray (2009). "Achieving growth and excellence in medicine: the case history of armed conflict and modern reconstructive surgery". Annals of Plastic Surgery 63 (5): 473–478.

Frank, Priscilla. "ORLAN Talks Plastic Surgery, Beauty Standards And Giving Her Fat To Madonna (PHOTOS, INTERVIEW, NSFW)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. 

Jefferies, Stuart. "Orlan's Art of Sex and Surgery." The Guardian, 1 July 2009. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2010). "Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank Statistics". Aesthetic Surgery Journal: 1–18.

Stevenson, Alexandra. "Plastic Surgery Tourism Brings Chinese to South Korea." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. 

Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath Today." PBS. PBS, 27 Mar. 2001. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. 

Whitelocks, Sadie. "One in Five Women in Seoul Have Gone under the Knife as South Korea Tops Global List of Plastic Surgery Procedures." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

Week 3 Robotics and Art

Mechanization brought by industrialization promise us a better and easier life, but Walter Benjamin criticized that because of technical reproduction, art and its authenticity is jeopardized by the mass production (1). In early ages of manual production, the aura of the art work is interrelated with traditions and rituals, but in the era of mechanical production, the function of art has lost its authenticity and turned to the practice of politics.

http://www.mrvanduyne.com/industrialization/stations/3_CY-R/images/r052_jpg.jpg

Indeed mechanization and mass production are so integrated in our lives, everything that we wear, see or eat are produced or processed from a mechanized factory. When everything that we come into contact with is replicable with the same standard of quality, we have grown to neglect the originality that we use to appreciate in early times.

http://th05.deviantart.net/fs4/200H/i/2004/246/0/7/The_Agreement_Of_the_Machines.jpg

Wall-E envisions the future where the Earth is no longer habitable, but the underlying theme portrayed in the movie is that the image of humanity, where human race are obese and moves around in robotic loungers with robotic servants. Same as many Hollywood Sci-fis, this movie vividly portrayed the concerns of heavy reliance on machines, to the point that we lose sight of our own individuality and physical independence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1BQPV-iCkU

Similarly, Sigfried Giedion critically examines mechanization and its effects to modern communities, he concludes that “Never has mankind possessed so many instruments for abolishing slavery…but the promises of a better life have not been kept.” (Giedion 715). Giedion suggests that we must look at machineries with the consideration of its social implications, not only the immediate benefits that they provide.

http://www.ediblegeography.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Mechanized-Bakery-Mouchot-Bros-EG.jpg

Douglas Davis’ arguments build on Benjamin’s idea of authenticity, he argues that the digital reproductions has changed the means of delivery for art and consequently eroded the aura of art morally (Davis 381-383). Charles Hirschkind applies this idea into cassette sermons and found that because of the repeatability and replication of these tapes, it poses a moral challenge that taped sermons erode pious living for believers as well (Hirschkind 626-628).

http://www.likecool.com/Gear/Pic/Gif%20Cassette/Gif-Cassette.gif

It is apparent that scholars have successfully mapped out the love-hate relationship toward mechanization. Yes, mass production gives us efficiency at a lower cost, but at the same time low-skilled and under-educated workers became the collateral damage in the name of progress, which can lead to increased poverty and widened wealth gap (MacEachern). In all, mechanization is a grand promise, but only suitable with moderate use or eventually we will all get kicked in the teeth.

Works Cited

Benjamin, Walter. The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. Penguin UK, 2008.

Davis, Douglas. "The work of art in the age of Digital Reproduction (An Evolving Thesis: 1991- 1995)." Leonardo (1995): 381-386.

Gideon, Siegfried. "Mechanization takes command." A Contribution to Anonymous History (1948).

Hirschkind, Charles. "The Ethics of Listening: Cassette‐Sermon Audition in Contemporary Egypt." American Ethnologist 28.3 (2001): 623-649.

MacEachern, Doug. ""Living Wage" a Mandate for Youth Unemployment." The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. 

Stanton, Andrew, Jim Morris, John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon, Thomas Newman, Ralph Eggleston, Stephen Schaffer, Alan Barillaro, Steven C. Hunter, Jeremy Lasky, Danielle Feinberg, Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, and Sigourney Weaver. Wall-e. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2008.

Week 2 Math and Art

                                        

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It is undeniable that our lives are intertwined with Art and Mathematics. When I was in high school, our art teacher Mrs. Au introduced us the concept of the vanishing point, she said that the vanishing point was used in many artworks hundreds of years ago, which shows that Mathematics remains its importance in the Art world.

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Professor Vesna talked about how mathematics, such as “Zero” had raised criticism and shifts in paradigms in early history. Robert Kaplan’s book studies the evolution of Zero, a number that were once seen as “dangerous Saracen magic”, but he points out that Zero unlocks the universe, it allows us to see the balances in the universe and to calculate the maximum and the minimum of the function is. These shifts in paradigms do not always constitute agreements around the world, but disagreements are just like the connections between Math and Art, they basically have kin relationship to one another that has tremendous effects in our lives, but in reality we often choose to separate and deny their connections. Similarly, Henderson also talked about the early disagreements about the existence of a 4D space, Abbott’s novel “Flatland” illustrates Flatlanders’ unwillingness to accept the existence of Lineland and the world of sphere, both are subjected to change and to be challenged.

“Flatland: The Movie - Official Trailer”

A recent art exhibit “AT the Core of the Algorithm” by artist Michael Petry, he explains the mathematical notion of multi-verse to demonstrate the idea that our universe is not a single universe, where there is many other possibilities and opportunities that is out there waiting to be explored!

https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/499240716_640.jpg

Today, the utilization of math and art is inseparable; artists use mathematical equations and programming to create new forms of art. The invention of 3D printer is also a great accomplishment to bring mathematics, technology and art together in a whole new level. 3D printing is now applicable in many industries such as apparel, automobiles, construction etc.

http://www.computersforcreativity.com/_/rsrc/1360804709079/about/programming-art-math/computers4creativitymap.png

http://gadgether.walyou.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Mink-is-a-3D-printer-for-makeup-.jpg

Recently I have seen news portraying a Harvard Business School graduate who uses 3D technology to create her brand Mink, a desktop printer that prints your personalize makeup. The most touching one should the story of the 7 year old Alex, who received a bionic 3D printed arm and was delivered by the one and only Tony Stark! Here we can see the juxtaposition, the marriage of art and mathematics can really bring wonders to improve human lives.

http://smallbiztrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/iron-man-3d-printed-arm-660x367.jpg

Works Cited

Abbott, Edwin A. Flatland: A romance of many dimensions. Oxford University Press, 2006.

Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. The fourth dimension and non-Euclidean geometry in modern art. MIT Press, 2013.

Kaplan, Robert and Sina Najafi. "Is Chance Possible?: An Interview with Robert Kaplan."CABINET //. 12 Jan. 2000. Web. 13 Apr. 2015. 

Petry, Michael. "The Poetry of Numbers." The GlazenHuis, 14 June 2014. Web. 13 Apr. 2015. 

Pilon, Annie. "Iron Man Delivers 3D Printed Arm to Child in Need." Small Business Trends. 17 Mar. 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.

Restauri, Denise. "A Harvard Woman Is Blowing Up The $55 Billion Beauty Industry With 3D 

Printed Makeup." Forbes. 30 June 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. “Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 9 April 2012. Web. 11 Apr 2015.

Week 1 Two Cultures

C.P. Snow’s (1959) points out the concept of two cultures in western society is “increasingly being split into two polar groups (4). This polarization results in stereotypes between non-scientists who think of their counterpart as “brash and boastful” (5), scientists also has negative connotations to non-scientists as well.

http://www.lsdgroofing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Dog_Meme_11.jpg

One reason that Snow believes causes the polarization, is educational specialization (18). The subsequent stereotypes of the two cultures are especially noted at the UCLA Campus. As sociology major, I have heard a lot of comments made about the rivalry between the south campus science and north campus art majors during class. It is worth noting that the competition between specialization and the comparison are not circulated only among students; even the UCLA Fund made the rivalry official by comparing which side of campus donates more gifts.

http://www.theuclafund.ucla.edu/Images/Final-gift-count.jpg

Snow says that the polarization will only be a sheer loss to the society and the members in the society (12). In my opinion, the divide between north campus and south campus is very damaging. Before I came to UCLA, I was so grateful because I believe everyone who attends UCLA is best of the best. But seeing this separation within campus has changed my perception of the school’s diversity and harmony. I believe that since we are all the best, why do we need to pay attention to this separation?

My whole life is about different cultures, I was born in Hong Kong, then a British colony until 1997, after the city’s handover back to China, I had to learn a new language and a whole new set of customs. 

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Then I immigrated to the U.S., and I was shocked by the cultural difference between the two countries. Now, I am in love with Los Angeles, but also sadden by the continual civil unrest in my hometown (BBC News).

https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/hkcover.jpg?quality=65&strip=color&w=814 (Hannah Beech)

Therefore, I think this week’s reading is instrumental for me to navigate my academic and personal life. Snow emphasizes that individuals share common patterns of behavior (Snow, 10). Bohm agrees that scientist is not fundamentally different from artist because of their same goal toward harmony and beauty (Bohm, 138)! Kelly also aligns the overlap between the purpose of science and arts. We should apply this philosophy in our daily life, by trying to be more considerate and embrace others regardless of our differences. All that we need to remember is “Go Bruins”!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/68891069272710842/

Works Cited

Beech, Hannah. "Hong Kong Stands Up." Time. Time, 1 Oct. 2014. Web. 5 Apr. 2015. 

Bohm, David. “On creativity.” Leonardo (1968): 137-149.

“China Memes.” Tumblr. Web. 5 Apr. 2015. 

“Hong Kong's democracy debate.” BBC News. 2014. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.

 “Keep Calm and Go Bruins.” Pinterest. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.

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

“My Specialy is Groofing.” Lsdgroofing. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.

 “UCLA Fund - And the Winner of the North vs. South Campus Challenge Is....ALL Bruins!”

UCLA Fund. 22 May 2013. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.

Snow, C.P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Cambridge University, New York. 1959.