Space + Art

As our course comes to a close, this final focus on space fittingly showcases the way in which art relates to not only our world, but our universe. Outer space is an intriguing field of interest and innovation, and has peaked the interest of scientists, artists, and everyday people alike.

Science fiction, depicting people living out their lives in space, took over mainstream entertainment as the space race began to pick up. These films, comics, and books took advantage of the relatively limited public knowledge of space and consequently infinite possibilities to dazzle people with wondrous fictitious technology and extravagant ideas about the future.

Although not explicitly stated in this week's course material, this fascination with space and intersect between space and art has is nothing new and existed far before space exploration was even an idea. One of the more ancient relationship between space and art can be found in early human fascination with the stars and naming of constellations. Simplistic images formed by connecting stars with lines have long entertained people and served as inspiration for complex stories and historical and religious lessons. 

Although human fascination with space is nothing new and has existed arguably since the beginning of the human experience, there is still much to be learned about it. Space missions are still to this day risky and costly ventures. Numerous failed space launches including the Apollo and Challenger missions have devastated the world, but the importance of continued efforts and curiosity cannot be overstated. The possibility of commercial space travel and the endless economic benefits from not only further exploration, but exploitation of extra terrestrial resources prove that the sphere of outer space is still an expanding and exciting field with enormous potential to not only quench a thirst for knowledge, but better the human experience!

Images:

Fenlon, Wesley. "What Would a Real Space Battle Look Like?" Tested. 26 Nov. 2012. Web. 31 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tested.com%2Fscience%2Fweird%2F451609-what-will-space-battles-really-look%2F>.

"The 88 Star Constellations of the Night Sky." Go Astronomy. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.htm>.

Silva, Jason. "At TED Active 2011 SCIENCE, ART = WONDER." Huffington Post. 8 Mar. 2011. Web. 31 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fjason-silva%2Fat-ted-active-2011-scienc_b_832677.html>.

Sources:

"Business Insider Finds Your Futurist Sci-Fi Tech Dreams Hilarious, You Silly American People." Wonkette. Web. 31 May 2015. http://wonkette.com/547059/business-insider-finds-your-futurist-sci-fi-tech-dreams-hilarious-you-silly-american-people

Franklin, H. Bruce. "Science Fiction, The Early History." Web. 31 May 2015. http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~hbf/sfhist.html

Dolan, Chris. "Alphabetical Listing of Constellations." Web. 31 May 2015. http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellation_list.html

"Stories From the Stars: Origins of the Constellations." Stargazers Astronomy. Web. 31 May 2015. http://www.stargazers.iinet.net.au/constellorigins.htm

Heidegger, Martin. "Art and Space." Web. 31 May 2015. http://roundtable.kein.org/sites/newtable.kein.org/files/Art%20and%20Space.pdf

Neuroscience + Art

The brain is a fascinating organ, and the way in which it transcends the fields of both art and science is spectacular. The brain not only produces vivid images and forms of art, but its very anatomy is a work of art in itself. This week we learned about the intersection between neuroscience and art, and the ways in which both fields have used a fascination with the brain to produce informative and beautiful creations.

Brainbow, a technique that uses fluorescent proteins to distinguish neurons in the brain, has both artistic and scientifically practical applications. Originally developed in 2007 by two Harvard University professors, Jeff Lichtman and Joshua Sanes, Rainbow has since provided the scientific world with a unique and revolutionary way to look at the brain, allowing for scientists to easily distinguish brain patterns and visualizing the ways in which the circuits in the brain work and interact.

Similarly, the many vibrant colors that the Brainbow process produces attract members of the art community at large. It translates to the artistically minded part of society the complex and intriguing phenomena behind the interworking of the brain that those within the field of science regularly experience.

While science is able to turn the brain itself into a work of art, the brain itself creates visually and mentally stimulating work of art on an individual and personal level, by both the use of chemicals that interact with the brain, through drugs like LSD, and by the process of dreaming. LSD, according to Dr. Albert Hoffman who worked extensively with LSD, studying its effects and publishing his findings, commented on the kaleidoscopic nature of LSD hallucinations. LSD works by interacting with the circuits in the brain (the same ones given vibrant distinctions via Brainbow) and effecting the ways in which serotonin is processed and created. These effects create complex hallucinations that bring artistic visuals to life.

Dreaming is another way in which the brain, by still rather unknown neural processes involving REM sleep, creates images and scenarios and imbeds them into a person on an unconscious level. 

Iconic psychologist Sigmund Freud, known for his detailed and complex understanding of dreams, believed that interpretation of one's dreams were important and, if done correctly, could reveal many aspects of the person's unconscious mind. 

Images:

Dunn, Greg A. "Brainbow Hippocampus." Greg Dunn Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gregadunn.com%2Fmicroetchings%2Fbrainbow-hippocampus%2F>.

"LSD: The Cause of Salem Witch Trials?" Psychovalmacology. Word Press, 03 Dec. 2014. Web. 17 May 2015. <https://psychovalmacology.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/lsd-the-cause-of-salem-witch-trials/>.

Mastin, Luke. "Sleep - Types and Stages of Sleep - REM Sleep." Sleep - Types and Stages of Sleep - REM Sleep. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.howsleepworks.com/types_rem.html>.

Sources:

"Brainbow." Brainbow. Center for Brain Science, n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/connectome-project/brainbow>.

"Green Fluorescent Protein - Cool Uses - Brainbow." Green Fluorescent Protein - Cool Uses - Brainbow. Ed. Marc Zimmer. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.conncoll.edu/ccacad/zimmer/GFP-ww/cooluses0.html>.

Hoffman, Albert. "LSD — My Problem Child." LSD. Trans. Jonathan Ott. McGraw-Hill. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.psychedelic-library.org/child.htm>.

"How Do Hallucinogens (LSD, Psilocybin, Peyote, DMT, and Ayahuasca) Affect the Brain and Body?" The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Feb. 2015. Web. 17 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drugabuse.gov%2Fpublications%2Fresearch-reports%2Fhallucinogens-dissociative-drugs%2Fwhere-can-i-get-more-scientific-information-hallucinogens-diss>.

McLeod, S. A. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html