madisonbeckettDESMA9

Part 3 of the lecture discussed the cultural impact of the Sputnik satellite (Vesna, 2024). I can see how the round, metallic, and spherical design of the satellite is an important feature. The design of the satellite signifies modernity and technological progress. Even looking at the image of the satellite now it still looks modern and slick in this day and age- I can imagine the impact was even greater at the time it was launched in the late 50s. I thought it was interesting that the modern design of Sputnik triggered responses  of anxiety and fear from the public.  In lecture part 4, Dr. Vesna discusses the impact of the first man on the moon (Vesna, 2024). This was not just a monumental achievement in space exploration but also a significant cultural and artistic milestone (Vesna). The image produced by the moon landing served as iconic symbols of the 20th century and served as inspiration for artists. Andy Warhol incorporated moon landing themes into his art, mixing ...

  During the first lecture, Dr. Gimzewski notes that nanotechnology is a broad field, and is impacted by almost every aspect of science- including agriculture and medicine (Gimzewski, 2024). I was surprised to learn this, as I previously believed nanotechnology to be associated with solely technological advancements. I was surprised to learn about the nanotechnology involved in ancient materials, as I had previously associated nanotechnology as a very modern technology. In his article about the application of nanotechnology in stained glass, Chi Chan discusses how practical application of the technology preceded its scientific understanding. This is generally the opposite of how much technology works today, where we first understand the scientific processes and then apply that knowledge in practical cases (Chan, 2008). The image below is of European stained glass that uses nanotechnology, from the early 15th century. (Chan, 2008) In the second part of the lecture, I was especially...

  In Lecture 3, I was intrigued and surprised to learn about Frued’s use of cocaine and role in medical malpractice. (Vesna, Lecture 3 Week 7). It seems so strange to hear that drugs such as cocaine and morphine were once common household medication, even appearing in soft drinks (Vesna, Lecture 3 Week 7).  This week's lecture made me think about our willingness to adopt scientific and technological innovations without a careful consideration of the risks. I wonder what is going to be the “cocaine” of today- as in what chemical or item in our everyday life will later become regarded as dangerous and outlawed.  (CBS NEWS 2011) Carl Jung writes that modern people often suffer from various forms of anxiety and neurosis because our conscious selves and unconscious selves are disconnected (Jung). He observes our culture's reliance on instant gratification (Jung). In some cases today, pharmaceuticals have become the first choice for alleviating depression. While I am strongly a...

  The Love Machines MFA exhibition was intriguing, inspiring, and slightly eerie.  The exhibition Touch(ing) Screen Workshop by Jules Johnson caught my attention as I first entered the room. The screen displayed videos of technology that intertwined with the sense of touch. The following image is of one of the interactions that intrigued me the most.  Ellen K Levy’s essay  questions the classification of life forms (Levy 1). She describes how artists are incorporating these changing classifications in their artwork, exploring the intersection of human and organism life, and artificial life (Levy 4). Johnson’s exhibit calls the viewer to consider the integration of human and machine. When we use our smartphones, we are only using our eyes and ears, and meshing human’s sense of touch with technology adds another dimension that draws us closer to technology: effectively diminishing the separation of the two. Another exhibit that I spent considerable time at, was Chong...

The exhibit at the CNSI ArtSci Gallery was an informative and truly interesting exhibit that changed the way I thought about processed food. The exhibit offered an eclectic selection of food industry advertisements that were meant for food industry producers.  The event helped me understand the lasting impact of the industrial age on art, science and technology.  The image below, part of the exhibit, describes the rise of ultra processed cheese. The second bullet point describes part of the popularity of processed cheese, is due to its convenience for the fast-paced life, even though the public has concern about the nutritional quality.  This can be related to Walter Benjamin’s concern over mechanical reproduction – where the quality of the art piece is reduced when it is replicated (Benjamin 1). Processed cheese was designed for mass production and consumption, and there is a similar argument of quality vs reproducibility.   Following Benjamin's ideas, I would say t...