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Showing posts from May, 2017

WEEK 7: NEURO+ART

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The topic of Neuroscience and Art for this week was extremely interesting to me, especially given the fact that I am a psychology major. As a psychology major, I study the brain and the different things that may affect it. At first,   I did not quite understand how Neuroscience and a rt could be used simultaneously until Professor Vesna explained the concept of Brainbow. Picture of Brainbow This use of fluorescent proteins to distinguish between different neurons in the brain was beautiful to look at but also possessed a sensible use, such that scientists are able to track brain activity and observe these neurons more closely because they are more distinguishable. This was probably my favorite display of art and neuroscience throu ghout this week's material  because it combines the   functionality and creativity that can be displayed through the combination of art and science .   Out of the material given to us this week, I found the lecture on Neurochemicals to be one

WEEK 6: BIOTECH AND ART

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In this week's lecture, we learned about one of the more controversial topics revolving around the intersections between art and science. In each of the lectures, Professor Vesna talks about the different organizations and artists that have become relevant by progressing in their combinations of art and biotechnology.   These issues become controversial when artists begin to create hybrids or alter the genetic codes of living creatures—mainly animals. I feel as if the use of animals and other living organisms to express art has an inherent feel of "playing God," such that some artists feel that they have a message to relay to the world by altering the biological features of another creature.   Stelarc, an artist, had an ear surgically attached to his arm T ransgenic animals are animals that have been  genetically  altered for scientific purposes.  I feel that art and technology are similar due to the fact that they both make advancements overtime and push boundaries t