EmmaDegerstedtEvent Blog: Bodies Exhibit

Bodies Exhibit: 'the study of human anatomy has always operated on a basic principle; to see is to know'

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On Sunday July 13th, 2014 I visited the Bodies Exhibit in Las Vegas, about a two hour drive from where I live in Utah. The exhibit began with the basic skeleton of the human body. Obviously this exhibit was a perfect example of week 3's topic of Med tech and art.

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The first glimpse of artistic freedom was displayed with an "expanded skull" in the first room of the exhibit. It pulled apart the facial bone structure and had the appearance of floating pieces of the face. It was 3-d and simply a way to represent the face in a non traditional way.

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The dark room titled "Circulatory" was the best example of  how the anatomy exhibit collaborated with artists. Scientists pumped colors of red, blue, and sometimes white into veins, than removed the organs connected. They sat in little glass boxes floating like little trees. Similarly to week two's lecture, (4) Leonardo Da Vinnci working with the architect to create the Virtruvian Man, this exhibit needed the expertise of scientists and artists to achieve the final product.

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Since we had just read Silvia Casini's essay on the MRI (6),  the most relevant piece to that week's topics was the giant case of what an MRI sees when it scans the body. It looked like the body was extremely magnified and sliced apart.

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Some of these floating veins reminded me of the virtual reality exercise where Diane Gromola (8) explained looking at a jellyfish moving and breathing with her and how it made her feel relaxed. I felt a similar sensation during this more beautiful part of the exhibit. Strangely, their was another section that made body parts look appealing which was the flattened out sections of liver, kidney, and lungs that looked like stained glass. There was also a case with a human heart in it. They had painted the heart bright red and it was lit from above, as well as backlit with all white backgrounds. Showing that something scientific can be as beautiful as something you'd find in an art museum made out of clay. 

REFERENCES:
(1) Degerstedt, Emma. Personal photo, July 13th, 2014

(2) "The Dispersal of Darwin." The Dispersal of Darwin. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 July 2014. <https://thedispersalofdarwin.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/>.

(3) http://rockinmama.net/bodiesthe-exhibition-titanic-the-experience-debut-in-buena-park-california-giveaway/

(4) "Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 18 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg#t=1511>.

(5) "Autopsies to be Replaced by CT Scans?." SciTech Daily. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 July 2014. <http://scitechdaily.com/autopsies-to-be-replaced-by-ct-scans/>.

(6) Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts." Configurations: 73-99. Web. 15 July 2014.

(7) "." . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 July 2014. <http://biology.clc.uc.edu/Fankhauser/Labs/Anatomy_%26_Physiology/A%26P203/203_Lectures/bodies_exhibit_index.html>.

(8) "TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 16 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdarMz--Pw>.

Week 5: Space and art

Week 5: Space and Art

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I watched the Powers of Ten film (2) and felt a similar sensation because "everything appeared so small as to seem inconsequential, which seemed to indicate that—from a certain height, vantage point and powers of ten—my problems and I were too" (Marlow1) (3). I was captivated by the spots that were filled with stars and than there was virtually nothing so quickly. I felt the overwhelming realization that I am minuscule in terms of the universe but then I felt entirely opposite when they showed us the reverse entering the skin and cells of the human body. 

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The first thing that came to my mind when I began reading the articles about space was my favorite film that came out last year, Gravity(5). Probably one of the most famous combinations of space and art, the film that took place only in space was educational as well as extremely heartfelt and entertaining. The most impressive performance though would be that of the film's cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki (6). The cinematographer is in charge of the artistic things, such as lighting, but also the very technical aspects of getting the perfect "shot". Having worked on a television show for three years and the film, The curious case of Benjamin Button, I have seen first hand how important this job is to the turnout of a project.


REFERENCES:
(1) "." . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2014. <http://www.wallcoo.net/cartoon/Space_image_Space_and_satellite_02_widescreen/index.html>.

(2) "Powers of Ten (1977)." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 24 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0>.

(3) "An Eames Office website.." Powers of Ten blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2014. <http://blog.powersof10.com/>.

(4) "Gravity - Official Main Trailer [2K HD]." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4>.

(5) "Gravity." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 25 July 2014. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/>.

(6) "Emmanuel Lubezki." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 25 July 2014. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0523881/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr9>.

week 5: nano tech

Week 5: Nanotechnology and Art

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photograph after my Hamlet scene performance with my Shakespeare professor at UCLA

Having studied Shakespeare, and performed a scene from Hamlet in college, I found the connection to the ghost of Hamlet's father, in the reading (2), best furthered my understanding of how nanotechnology correlates with art. Since nano particles are invisible, the exhibit finds other ways for people to interact with them by allowing "A ghost of the mote [to] be seen in your peripheral vision but never head on" (Curtin1). Naturally a person would then continue to investigate but "The more [they] look the more invisible it becomes, look away and it remerges" (Curtin1). This also aludes to a philosophical theory about people overanalyzing and explaining that sometimes "the harder we look the more blurred our vision becomes" (Curtin1). 

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The most interesting application of nanotechnology I reviewed this week was the benefit in medicine. After watching Nanotech for Artists Part 4 (4) , I found two articles regarding nano medicine; one with a negative connotation and one with a more neutral outlook (5), informing the public about the drugs, stating quotations and facts. 

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The benefits for curing cancer cells by using nanotechnology to isolate the cancerous cells and avoiding poisoning all of the good cells are mentioned in the lecture, whereas the more negative article focuses on the question of whether these "nanochips could be forced on to Alzheimer’s patients or the elderly to prevent them from forgetting to take their medication" (Turbeville1) (7) and where we draw the line. After reading both of these articles I cannot help but still feel supportive when I hear about abraxane, the FDA approved cancer nanodrug and how Loreal cosmetics are investing in nanotechnology to improve their products.

REFERENCES:

(1) Degerstedt, Emma. Personal photograph. 13, March, 2014

(2) "art in the age of nanotechnology." Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2014. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

(3) "." . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/01/17/technology/20080117_NANOART_SLIDESHOW_3.html>.

(4) "Nanotech Jim pt4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHCuZetAIhk>.

(5) Hough, Andrew. "New 'smart' pill tells patients when drugs dose due." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 28 July 0017. Web. 23 July 2014. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9019651/New-smart-pill-tells-patients-when-drugs-dose-due.html>.

(6) "HowStuffWorks "Nanotechnology Cancer Treatments"." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2014. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/modern-technology/gold-nanotech1.htm>.

(7) "The Arrival of Nanotech Medicine and What it Means for Health and Privacy." Activist Post:. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. <http://www.activistpost.com/2012/01/arrival-of-nanotech-medicine-and-what.html#!bn2AR5>.

EmmaDegerstedtweek4Neruro

Week 4: Neuroscience and Art

Lecture III, (1) regarding the use of the drugs; LSD and cocaine, was my main interest this week. In high school I witnessed a person on "hallucinogenic mushrooms" begin yelling at a piece of toast that was "threatening him". This "bad trip" experience was enough to keep me from experimenting with drugs. 

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Having read Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which popularized LSD, I found it interesting that most of the scientists who were studying these drugs, were experimenting on themselves. This book was controversial because it inadvertently advertised for this drug and raised "ethical concerns" "about whether psychotropic drugs should be used to treat legitimate disorders or as quick fixes to solve problems related to the exigencies of the life some individuals aspire to" (Anker/Frazzetto 819) (3).  In lecture, professor also mentioned Leary, the psychology professor that had a ninety percent success rate using these drugs on prisoners keep them from becoming repeat offenders. 

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Similarily, I discovered the "co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) believed that LSD could be used therapeutically to cure alcoholism." (MBD 1) He believed using the hallucinogenic drug would lead to a spiritual awakening. The idea that ‘The brain is a very strange and marvellous thing. It is not like the heart or a kidney, it is thinking flesh’ (Anker/Frazzetto 817) reminded me of one of my favorite films, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This film explores the idea of erasing conscious memories and the complications that arise.

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(1) "Neuroscience pt3." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 19 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0#t=30>.

(2) "Suncoast Rehabilitation Center Looks at the History of Hallucinogenic Drugs." Suncoast Drug Rehab Center RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 July 2014. <http://www.suncoastrehabcenter.com/blog/suncoast-rehabilitation-center-looks-at-the-history-of-hallucinogenic-drugs/>.

(3) Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Science and Society ." Neuroculture 10: 815-821. Web.

(4) "How Founder of AA Wanted To Use LSD To Get People Off Alcohol." Political Blind Spot. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. <http://politicalblindspot.com/how-founder-of-aa-wanted-to-use-lsd-to-get-people-off-alcohol/>.

(5) "A whole lotta gumption!." SheKnows. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. <http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1027919/15-inspiring-movie-quotes-from-strong-female-characters>.

EmmaDegerstedtweek4

Surprisingly, I was most engaged in this topic of all the materials so far during the course.

The animal biotechnology video (1) shows how the controversial topic of cloning can be beneficial for humans. In this video they explain how they take cells from the cow, create a sequence of DNA, put in genes to make antibodies, clone the cow, and than that cow has a little bit of human chromosome and anti bodies can be collected from the cows and used to treat humans. 

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 My mother was diagnosed with  Severe Aplastic Anemia,  (SAA-a syndrome of bone marrow failure) in 1980 in Sweden.  At that time there was no treatment other than bone marrow transplants, but no suitable donor was available.

She was given the option to try a research drug, called ATG (antithymocyte globulin) (3) Human lymphocytes ( a type of white blood cells) are injected into an animal, rabbit or horse. The animal develops antibodies and the antibodies 

are retrieved from the animal, treated and  then infused into the bloodstream of the patient. My mother was the first woman and the second person to receive ATG in Sweden in 1980.

This type of work in biotechnology is heroic if used in order to cure or help, I think experimenting with animals for an aesthetic reason is wrong. This is why I was very disturbed by Eduardo Kac's  genetically engineered GFP bunny. 

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However, in the Part III lecture, (5) I enjoyed learning about Kathy High's experiments because she incorporated empathy. Her goal was to solve our health problems with the assistance of rats. High wanted to work and help rats while using their assistance to solve health issues human's have. 

(1) "Animal Biotechnology." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 17 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCIvAuwaf-o#t=1018>.

(2) Personal photograph of Carina and Emma Degerstedt. 13, April, 2013.

(3) "Antithymocyte Globulin Rabbit (Intravenous Route)." - Drugs and Supplements. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 July 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/antithymocyte-globulin-rabbit-intravenous-route/description/drg-20061948>.

(4) "GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 July 2014. <http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html>.

(5) "5 BioArt pt3." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 19 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpD3np1S2g&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7>.

emmaDegerstedtWeek3: Med Tech

Week 3: MedTech and Art

As an artist I never considered medicinal science to influence the artistic realm. I've always known art to have power, but I hadn't considered its potential as a form of healing. Silvia Casini's (1) explanation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in her essay best showed the connection between art and medicine by highlighting the similarities between MRI's and portraits.  

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This connection between art and medicine became very real to me in the last week when I had multiple Fiberoptic Laryngoscopy exams. This exam is a tiny camera connected to a cord that is inserted through the nostril. It records video and can be reviewed while they perform the test in order to diagnose as well as save and compare with progress later. At the time I didn't realize it, but that video was a form of art.  Watching Diane Gromala's TED talk brought me right back into that doctors office. (3)

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When she discusses the surreal experience of Virtual Reality, I felt (although not in such an extreme situation) a similar feeling when seeing the inner workings of my own throat. Gromala discusses how her experience with VR was such an encompassing while distracting experience, it was respite from her chronic pain. I realized I was so fascinated by the images that I let go of the pain I've been in and the fact that a camera was invading my body.  

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Those tiny bumps are vocal nodules

Diane's TED talk continued to hit home as she discussed meditation and yoga being a way to avoid chronic pain through stress relief. (6) My doctor diagnosed me with nodules on my vocal chords, most likely caused by "a disconnect from breath support caused by tension and stress (muscular and skeletal issues manifesting in the voice) and unexpressed emotions or difficulty expressing emotion can be huge contributors to what seem to be singing issues." (Hamady1) and can be a career ending diagnosis for a singer.  Coincidentally, my doctor, after prescribing the regular western medicininal remedies including acid reflux natural remedies, recommended yoga and meditation since "anxiety and acid reflux usually go hand in hand" (Hamady1). 

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  This weeks assignment was a fortuitous topic.  I have lived my life as an artist for as long as I can remember, and although I've always respected medicine, the two worlds have never coexisted for me. Without realizing it, these two fields have been coexisting in my own life for the last couple weeks.  It took this assignment to put that fact into perspective, and I'd like to believe it will help me understand how to improve my health and my craft. The importance of MRI's and other similar machines "function as an acoustic mirror and portrait bearing a “look” and capable of “looking back” at the onlooker" (Casini 76).

references:

(1)  Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts." . Configurations, 2011, 19:73–99 © 2012 by The Johns Hopkins University Press and the Society for Literature and Science., n.d. Web. . <file:///Users/degerstedtemma/Downloads/19.1.casini%20(1).pdf>.

(2) Fiberoptic Laryngoscopy. N.d. Medical Exhibits, Demonstrative Aids, Illustrations and Models, n.p.

(3) "TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 10 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdarMz--Pw>.

(4) "VR Treatments Reduce Pain." HPL. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2014.

(5) "Voice Disorders." : Vocal Fold Nodules. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 July 2014. <http://voicecounseling.blogspot.com/2013/04/vocal-fold-nodules.html>.

(6) "Finding Your Voice." : Pre-nodules, Acid Reflux and Vocal Care. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2014. <http://jenniferhamady.blogspot.com/2009/01/pre-nodules-acid-reflux-and-vocal-care.html>.

(7) "Growing a Business with Yoga Alliance - Conscious Connection Magazine." Conscious Connection Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 July 2014.

EmmaDegerstedtweek2blog:robotics

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As we delve into this weeks topics on robots, I could not help but think about my own experience with my own "robot."  There is a technology called an "air wheel" that I use during my show. 

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This small one-wheeled machine has two feet placers which are sensors that respond to the person's weight distribution. Imagine a segway without the handles. The machines average speed is fifteen miles per hour. I'm confident the makers of the air wheel did not imagine that people would be using them in large theatrical productions, let alone singing and acting on them.  This is a perfect example of the robotic industry and artistic industry creating a symbiotic relationship.  

below is a video of one of my first rehearsals trying the airwheel in costume. (Excuse the "wicked witch" sound test that was going on during the filming of this video)

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As art and robotics continue to influence one another, I believe we need to take a close look at the future and be aware of the road we may be heading down.  In Blade Runner we see a society where "replicants" or cyborgs have been created and subsequently society has become exceedingly dystopian. (4) I was recently reading an article about Apple factories in China becoming entirely robot driven.  (5) This is a small step toward a dangerous future, and is a fascinating juxtaposition between a company that prides itself on creating artistic machinery for people, while simultaneously taking thousands of jobs away from those people and replacing them with machinery.  As we continue down this road and develop robots that can operate at the same capacity of humans, we see immediate benefits, like being able to spend more time and energy on our art, but forget about the long term repercussions.  Rodney Brooks' TED talk in 2003, was a very perceptive look at where society is today in its attitude toward Robots.  (6) At the end of Brooks' TED talk he asks two interesting questions, "Will [robots] need rights?" and "Will they take over?"  These questions have been explored and asked time and again in novels like "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep," and movies like "Blade Runner."  

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Robots have endless potential to help our society and influence great art.  We can use "robots" in theatrical productions, they can influence us to make great films like "Blade Runner," and they can build wonderful artistic devices like macbook pros, cameras, and digital designing software.  However, as these robots continue to impede on our every day lives, whether for good or bad, we need to remember that art comes from people and although robots can help influence us in many great ways we need to be aware of where they are potentially taking us.  Stephen Hawking states the juxtaposition of robots influence on society in one succinct thought, "Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. (8)  Unfortunately, it might also be the last" (Hawking).

References

(1) "cityscapes artistic robots mech artwork claws engineers kabihuton 1400x1050 wallpaper Tools robots HD Art HD Wallpaper." cityscapes artistic robots mech artwork claws engineers kabihuton 1400x1050 wallpaper High Quality Wallpapers,High Definition Wallpapers. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 July 2014. <http://www.miscellaneoushi.com/Tools/robots/cityscapes_artistic_robots_mech_artwork_claws_engineers_kabihuton_1400x1050_wallpaper_37095>.

(2) "Airwheel X3 Electric Self Balancing Electric Unicycle." AirebikeAirwheel Electric Unicycle. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July 2014. <http://www.airebike.com/airwheel-x3/>.

(3) Degerstedt, Emma. Personal video. May 14th, 2014.

(4) "Blade Runner." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 8 July 2014. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/>.

(5) Mick, Jason. "DailyTech - Foxconn Billionaire Hints at Robotic Apple Factory, Criticizes Dead Employees." DailyTech - Foxconn Billionaire Hints at Robotic Apple Factory, Criticizes Dead Employees. N.p., 30 June 2014. Web. 12 July 2014. <http://www.dailytech.com/Foxconn+Billionaire+Hints+at+Robotic+Apple+Factory+Criticizes+Dead+Employees/article36144.htm>.

(6) "Robots will invade our lives." Rodney Brooks:. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/rodney_brooks_on_robots#t-1099125>.

(7) "Blade Runner: The Theatrical Version." The Ferguson Theater. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 July 2014. <http://derricklferguson.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/blade-runner-the-theatrical-version/>.

(8) Kolodny, Carina. "Stephen Hawking Is Terrified Of Artificial Intelligence." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 5 May 2014. Web. 12 July 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/05/stephen-hawking-artificial-intelligence_n_5267481.html>.

EmmaDegerstedtweek2: Math and Art

Integrating Math and Art

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During last weeks introduction lecture, our professor brought up her distaste of the 

lateralization of brain function theory. This week's material provided a similar tone so 

I decided to test my artistic "right brain" by taking an illegitimate facebook quiz titled "Which side of your brain is more dominant?" It came up with interesting results.

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Being a North Campus major, I share the characteristics of a "right brain", however my results show my natural favoritism toward my "left brain." This. Proving that "No matter how lateralized the brain can get, the two sides still work together," (Cherry) (3).

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Cherry's article stated this myth of a separation in brain hemispheres functionality was supported by all of the fascinating examples and videos we explored this week. For example, in lecture, the infamous Vitruvian Man, by Leonardo Da Vinci, collaborated with an architect to create this man with "ideal" proportions. In 2014, the influence of the 1487 painting is still prominent in our culture as shown in Fox's reality series, So you Think you can Dance.

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While exploring more contemporary artist's websites, my personal affinity for music attracted me to the Four Dimensions video by Nathan Selikoff (6). By incorporating a full orchestra, electronic sounds, and visual effects, the impressive video reflected what my production of The Little Mermaid accomplishes during the musical number, "Part of your World". However, we also incorporate nature by utilizing an eighty foot water curtain and projecting electronic images of the ocean to reflect off the water. The song is performed with a full orchestra, electronic mixing through my microphone, and various visual effects. 

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Photo taken during rehearsal for The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn Performing Arts Center

REFERENCES

(1) Left and right brain function illustration. Image credit: Shutterstock / Rakkandee

(2) Screenshot. Personal photograph by author. 2014.

(3) Cherry, Kendra . "Left Brain vs Right Brain ." Understanding the Myth of Left Brain and Right Brain Dominance. Web.<http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/a/left-brain-right-brain.htm>.

(4) Myers, Hal R. "Vitruvian Man." Hal Robert Myers. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 July 2014.

(5) IdolxDance. "New Intro - SYTYCD Season 11." YouTube. YouTube, 28 May 2014. Web. 07 July 2014.

(6) Selikoff, Nathan. "Four Dimensions - Real-time Audio-visual Performance - Nathan Selikoff." Nathan Selikoff. Nathan Selikoff, 2012. Web. 07 July 2014.

(7) Screenshot. Personal photograph by author. 2014.