Unit 1: Two Cultures

I am both an artist and an engineer. As a Mechanical Engineering student at UCLA, I am drawn towards physics, computer science, math, and everything in-between. When I am free from problem sets and design projects, I enjoy 3D-printing trinkets and assembling pieces of jewelry. One day I aspire to be an engineer immersed in product design, though I cannot imagine getting there without some artistic, creative fun. For everyday consumer product design, I actually see a growing need for practical, intelligent, and attractive solutions. Take some left-brained people and gather some right-brained people to collaborate together and just imagine how much more distance is covered when a project finally veers straight.

Left vs Right Brain
https://mc2.bid4papers.com/blog/8-ways-left-brain-thinkers-boost-creativity/

In the RSA video about changing education paradigms, I found it so true that education systems are completely missing opportunities to better-engage students (The RSA). Creativity is an aspect of the human mind that is significant for day-to-day skills; it should be emphasized as much as all the other subjects, especially in high schools and colleges, where art seems to be lacking the most significance. Creativity through art is especially powerful in bringing people with entirely different backgrounds together.

RSA Video Graphical Summary
https://littlecommas.wordpress.com/tag/rsa-animate/

Just considering my campus, there is clear dividing line between the arts/humanities and STEM fields. As an engineer, I only have 5 general education requirements, whereas non-engineers have at least 10. Yet there is little compensation for the lack of art within the engineering curriculum. I definitely see an opportunity for engineering departments to collaborate with artists to create a curriculum that is both right and left brained.

UCLA's Bruinwalk: The dividing line
http://uclaevents.com/image-gallery/ucla-film-and-photography-locations/sidewalks-corridors-and-paths/

I am personally encouraged by Victoria Vesna's paper, which proposes and encourages collaboration between the arts and sciences (Vesna). Having seen the title of this very course has already engaged me in seeking that opportunity to expand my engineering toolbox through the exploration of art and through renewing my view of artists as co-laborers rather than distant intellectuals.

Sources
“8 Ways for Left-Brain Thinkers to Boost Creativity.” Blog, 5 Feb. 2018, mc2.bid4papers.com/blog/8-ways-left-brain-thinkers-boost-creativity/.

“RSA Animate.” , littlecommas.wordpress.com/tag/rsa-animate/.

The RSA. "RSA ANIMATE: Changing Education Paradigms." Online video clip. Youtube. YouTube, 14 October 2010. Web. 7 April 2018.

UCLA Events Office, uclaevents.com/image-gallery/ucla-film-and-photography-locations/sidewalks-corridors-and-paths/.

Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo, vol. 34, no. 2, 2001, pp. 121-125.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unit 8: NanoTech + Art

Image
It is typically said that people fear what they do not understand. With nanotechnology, such a statement can be applied especially when the subject in question cannot be seen with the naked eye. Today, much discomfort towards the field of nanotechnology exists. In The Nanomeme Syndrome, it is said that "as soon as we confront the scale that nanotechnology works within, our minds short circuit. The scale becomes too abstract in relation to human experience. Consequently, any intellectual connection to the nanoscale becomes extremely difficult" (Gimzewski and Vesna). However, nanotechnology has surprisingly made life-sized impacts in its small ways. In his lecture, Dr. Jim Gimzewski mentions several everyday products that utilize nanotechnology: medicine therapy/treatment, makeup, self-cleaning windows, silver odor-eliminating clothing, etc. (Lecture 3). Silver Nanoparticles Fighting against Smelly Bacteria Of course, these innovative products would not have been able to
Read more

Extra Credit Event: Weak Or No Signal

Image
This quarter, I had the opportunity to attend the UCLA DESMA Master's of Fine Arts showcase for the graduating class of 2018. This was undoubtedly one of the more interesting events I have attended that relate to the DESMA field because it was visually interactive. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an MFA project is worth a million because of the amount of effort put in. For this particular exhibit, it was evident how the projects utilized technology to their advantage. A Selfie with Home-like Artwork Electronic Jacket One of the first pieces I saw was an electronic jacket. It could flash lights down the length of the arm and was wired extensively. This product proved a unique approach to wearable technology, as it introduced tech to an article of clothing as opposed to being a typical accessory add-on. This reminded me of the lecture by Waseda University professor, Machiko Kusahara, who shared that the future of robotics is shifting towards more people-relati
Read more

Event Blog 1: Acoustical Visions

Image
I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Bill Fontana on Acoustical Visions. The presentation supported the relationship that can exist between an image and its vibration sound. The purpose is to introduce new perspectives on the things that we see on a day-to-day basis by listening to the sounds that we actually miss due to our limited hearing abilities as humans. Photo with Bill Fontana In his work, Bill uses a seismic accelerometer to capture the microvibrations of a given element. From bridges, to bells, to water, and even sculptures that he comes across, Bill readily analyzes various structures and accompanies the recorded sound with images or video. The technology in which Bill utilizes to create this art is actually very reflective of the work that I have come across in my Mechanical Engineering courses. Comparing the seismic accelerometer photo with my lecture notes from my dynamic systems and feedback course, I notice the close relationship between my studies
Read more