Math + Art

In this week’s lesson, lecture and readings I have gained many new insights into the ways that math influences art and science. I knew that these three were interconnected but I had no idea just how many different types of art they could result in. Nathan Selikoff’s “Beautiful Chaos” is an example of the unique ways that math and art combine to create something truly amazing. His app allows for 3D interaction through a device to a computer to create art as seen in the video clip above. Sonia Sheridan provides an example of science and art intermixing in her images of scientific nature, such as the shape of time. 

(Sonia Sheridan's example of the shape of time)

Lastly, Columbia University points out the ways computers allow us to create an entire

 new realm of sounds in music. In Kevin Box and Robert J. Lang’s art piece “Migrating Peace”, it is easy to see the intricate mathematical patterns involved in creating origami. When just looking at the beautiful doves it can be easy to forget about the complex patterns that go into the making of this art piece.

(Kevin Box and Robert Lang's origami art "Migrating Peace")

How each individual views a piece of art can also be incredibly unique to his/her perspective. Edwin Abbott shows us an alternate universe based on different perspectives in his essay “Flatland”. Depending on whether or not someone grew up and chose the math or science path over the artistic one, or vice versa, can make a dramatic difference on their view of art and the combination of the three areas of study.

Works Cited

Abbott, Edwin Abbott. Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1963. Print. 

"The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art." Choice Reviews Online 51.02 (2013): n. pag. Web. 

"Music and Computers." Music and Computers. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2016. 

"Robert J. Lang Origami." Robert J. Lang Origami. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2016. 

"Sonia Landy Sheridan - Home Page." Sonia Landy Sheridan - Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Two Cultures

(Oasics ad)

(Cartoon of Snow and his ideas) 

I feel a deep connection to the topic of two cultures as referred to by Snow in his lecture "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution". I have always felt torn between the artistic culture and the scientific one that seem to divide our population, which leaves me in the "third culture" referred to by Vesna in her piece "Third Culture: Being in Between". I have always loved art, but succeeded in math and sciences in school. For this reason, it was difficult when coming to college to have to choose between the two. Now in my second year at UCLA I realize what a significant choice it was because I drastically removed myself from the other sphere. I find myself feeling out of place on the science side of campus, but no one should feel this way simply because they don't specialize in a certain area of study. 

This separation is so embedded in our history that it remains a very defining characteristic of the world we live in today. Snow gives us an insight into his view of this issue. He believes that like the gap between the rich and the poor, the gap between the artists and the scientists should not lead to this large of a distinction between the values held by the two. We should see the value in both areas of study because they are equally important and influential towards the development of our society. I never realized the true

(UCLA creates a divide between north and south campus)

disparities that this gap created by distancing the two cultures until Snow's lecture pointed it out to me.

Helpful Links:

Kevin Kelly: The Third Culture

A closer look at the two cultures in the 21st century 

A closer look at the third culture

Biography of C.P. Snow

An Update on C. P. Snow's "Two Cultures"

Works Cited

North vs. South Campus Challenge. Digital image. North vs. South Campus Challenge. UCLA Fund, n.d. Web.

Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures. London: Cambridge UP, 1993. Print.

The Two Cultures Debate. Digital image. The Two Cultures Debate. Faversham Stoa, n.d. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between”. Leonardo 34.2 (2001): 121–125. Web.

What's a Left without a Right? Digital image. AMSTERDAM WORLDWIDE. Amsterdam Ad Blog, n.d. Web.