Julia_Berman Module 4 Medicine, Art, +Technology: Weekly Blog Post

One of the most important and useful applications of the intersection of science, art, and technology occurs in the field of medicine. In lecture this week, we discussed how art, science, and technology come together in the field of medicine. The signs and symptoms of many diverse medical conditions can be aided by the use of technologies. For instance, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology, as discussed in class, has allowed healthcare workers to use technology to visualize, diagnose, and treat many conditions, varying greatly in severity (e.g., scoliosis, broken bones, cancer, inflammation in the body). MRI imaging has even been used to visualize the places in the mouth where different sounds are created for the purpose of studying linguistics (as I have watched this week in my linguistics class in our study of phonetics). MRI images are a unique work of art that showcases the beauty of the structure of the human body. It is interesting to visualize the idea of the structure of things, the body being a key example, as discussed in class. Additionally, medicine, technology, science and art come together in the creation of artificial limbs (i.e., prosthetic legs, robotic arms) for those with limb differences. Alleles Design Company uses art to make cute, creative designs for prosthetic legs, and “[Alleles Design Company] models its covers in 3-D on a computer, then fabricates them using various manufacturing machines. The result is a made-to-measure product fashioned from lightweight, durable ABS plastic that attaches to a prosthesis with two polyurethane straps with metal hooks” (Jagannathan Meera and Moneyish 1). In the article “This Design Duo Turns Prosthetic Limbs into Works of Art,” Meera and Moneyish also discuss how artistically designed medical technologies of prosthetic legs can help normalize conversation surrounding disability. Furthermore, I have recently heard of the use of exoskeletons (e.g., Trexo robotics) to help individuals with conditions that impair ambulation (e.g., spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy) to be able to walk again. The Trexo robotics machine is in it of itself a work of art; a creation of a pair of wearable artificial legs in a colorful design, which children with disabilities that affect anmulation can wear and be able to experience walking for the first time.

Reference: photo from https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/wearable-robot-helps-children-walkTrexo Robotics wearable exoskeleton to help children with disabilities walk.

Reference: photo from https://nypost.com/2018/07/06/this-design-duo-turns-prosthetic-limbs-into-works-of-art/ Design for prosthetic limbs by Alleles Design Team.

MRI Cross-Section of Someone’s Mouth and Throat While Singing ‘If I Only Had a Brain' - Reference: photo from https://allthingslinguistic.com/post/117552019408/an-mri-cross-section-of-someones-mouth-and-throat

There are also many different applications of art to the human body outside of medicine to treat physical conditions. An example of such art is the jewelry created by artist Emily Watson. Each piece of jewelry showcases the image of the human body. These pieces of jewelry are wearable art that can help increase confidence surrounding body image. This increase in confidence from this unique, beautifully styled jewelry can help boost the mental health of individuals who may be struggling to accept their body image.

Emily Watson: Metal & Enamel Jewelry - Reference: photo from http://www.metalemily.com/index.html

Works Cited

Alleles Design Studio, et al. “Alleles Design Studio: Prosthetic Limb Design.” Alleles Design 

Studio/New York Post Article "This Design Duo Turns Prosthetic Limbs into Works of Art", NYP Holdings, Inc./New York Post, New York, NY, 6 July 2018, https://nypost.com/2018/07/06/this-design-duo-turns-prosthetic-limbs-into-works-of-art/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022. 

ASME, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. “Wearable Robot Helps Children 

Walk.” ASME, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Wearable Robot Helps Children Walk, ASME, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 25 Apr. 2018, https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/wearable-robot-helps-children-walk. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022. 

Institute, Beckman, and Gretchen McCulloch. “MRI Cross-Section of Someone’s Mouth and 

Throat While Singing ‘If I Only Had a Brain.’” All Things Linguistic: A Blog about All Things Linguistic by Gretchen McCulloch/Embedded Video "New Super-Fast MRI Technique: Singing 'If I Only Had a Brain"', All Things Linguistic: A Blog about All Things Linguistic by Gretchen McCulloch/Embedded Video "New Super-Fast MRI Technique: Singing 'If I Only Had a Brain"', 3 Apr. 2015, https://allthingslinguistic.com/post/117552019408/an-mri-cross-section-of-someones-mouth-and-throat. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022. 

Jagannathan, Moneyish, Meera. “This Design Duo Turns Prosthetic Limbs into Works of Art.” 

New York Post, NYP Holdings, Inc./New York Post, 6 July 2018, https://nypost.com/2018/07/06/this-design-duo-turns-prosthetic-limbs-into-works-of-art/. 

McCulloch, Gretchen. “All Things Linguistic: A Blog about All Things Linguistic by Gretchen 

McCulloch.” All Things Linguistic, All Things Linguistic: A Blog about All Things Linguistic by Gretchen McCulloch., 28 Apr. 2015, https://allthingslinguistic.com/post/117552019408/an-mri-cross-section-of-someones-mouth-and-throat. 

Vesna, Victoria, et al. “Bodies Inc.” Bodies© Incorporated: Main, Viewpoint Data Labs, 

Netscape, Alias/Wavefront, Silicon Graphics, MetaTools, The David Bermant Foundation, SIGGRAPH, Contemporary Arts Center of New Victoria Vesna, President and CEO/Orleans, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, San Francisco Art Institute, Cactus R&D, RAIN, UC Santa Barbara., http://www.bodiesinc.ucla.edu/frames1.html. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine+Technology+Art,Introductory Lecture.” Medicine+Technology+Art 

Lectures: Module 4: Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Medicine+Technology+Art Lectures for Module 4 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=485251. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine+Technology+Art, Lecture 1.” Medicine+Technology+Art 

Lectures: Module 4: Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Medicine+Technology+Art Lectures for Module 4 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=485251. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine+Technology+Art, Lecture 2.” Medicine+Technology+Art 

Lectures: Module 4: Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Medicine+Technology+Art Lectures for Module 4 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=485251. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine+Technology+Art, Lecture 3.” Medicine+Technology+Art 

Lectures: Module 4: Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Medicine+Technology+Art Lectures for Module 4 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=485251. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine+Technology+Art, Lecture 4.” Medicine+Technology+Art 

Lectures: Module 4: Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Medicine+Technology+Art Lectures for Module 4 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=485251. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.

Watson, Emily. “Emily Watson: Metal & Enamel Jewelry: Home Page.” Emily Watson | Metal & 

Enamel Jewelry | Home Page, Emily Watson, http://www.metalemily.com/. 

Watson, Emily. “Jewelry by Emily Watson: Metal, Enamel, Jewelry.” MetalEmily.com: Emily Watson: Metal and Enamel Jewelry, Emily Watson: Metal and Enamel Jewelry, 

Columbus, OH, http://www.metalemily.com/index.html. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022. 

“Wearable Robot Helps Children Walk.” ASME, The American Society of Mechanical 

Engineers, 25 Apr. 2018, https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/wearable-robot-helps-children-walk. 

Julia_Berman DESMA 9 Event 1 Post

Screenshot of Email Confirmation for Event (RSVPed on April 6th for event)

For my first event, I attended a virtual screening of the film “Alice Guy-Blaché: The Untold Story,” presented by the Slipstream feature at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Throughout this film, I enjoyed how technology intersected with art to create a unique introduction to the untold history of Guy-Blaché. Scenes of LA with computer coding graphics and flashing images of iconic films from Los Angeles unfolded in the introduction. The art forms of film and technology came together to tell this history of Alice Guy-Blaché.

Introduction within the film

One aspect of the film that really stuck with me is how Guy-Blaché was a woman who contributed extensively to the birth of cinema. In the early 20th century, women were often seen as secondary to their husbands across society. Blanche helps challenge this stereotypical notion. “Be Natural serves as a timely reminder that women have long struggled to be recognised as creative powerhouses” (Bridget Hanna 1). Guy-Blaché filmed and produced many diverse cinematic arts, using traditional filming technologies (e.g., early forms of cameras). The example of the camera as a device to film art illustrates an important intersection between science, technology, and art. In lecture, specifically part 1 of the Robotics + Art lecture series, we discussed the invention of the printing press and intersections between art, science, culture, and technology (Victoria Vesna 0:00-3:07). The advent of the camera and traditional cinema was pioneered by Guy-Blaché. Guy-Blaché produced these films decades before the advent of modern cinema and digital editing techniques. In the Robotics+Art lecture series, it was discussed how machinery and technology can lead to the creation of unique works of art only possible by using technology (i.e., cinema, graphic design, printing on a printing press). It is inspirational and impressive how Guy-Blaché used manual cameras (a new technology for the time) and unique techniques to film diverse, complex films with an intricate style. I also enjoyed seeing how Guy-Blaché explored complex and pertinent topics, such as: social class, the rights of workers, and gender roles throughout society.

Hand Tinted Style: a unique and beautiful style that Guy-Blaché uses in her films

Another aspect of this screening that stuck with me is how Alice Guy-Blaché greatly contributed to the birth of modern cinema and created complex, beautiful, unique works of art, yet, her name is seldom mentioned in the discussion of the history of film and television. The hand-tinted style that Guy-Blaché uses in her films is an example of her unique and artistic manner of producing film. Prior to this film, I had never heard the name Alice Guy-Blanche, despite taking multiple film and television and theater courses at UCLA, and growing up in Burbank, near the major American film studios. This illustrates how her immense talent was not recognized by society as a whole. It is up to society to recognize this true historical figure who helped pioneer the birth of cinema using science, technology, machinery, and art.

Newspaper article advertisement for Solax studios (Alice Guy-Blache's Studio)  

Works Cited

Green, Pamela B. and Vanessa R. Schwartz, directors. Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice 

Guy-Blaché. Slipstream Virtual Screening: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), 2022. Slipstream Virtual Screening: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), https://viewslipstream.com/account/general/?updated=account. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. 

Green, Pamela B., and Vanessa R. Schwartz. “Examples of films by Alice Guy-Blache: The 

Cabbage Fairy, Midwife to the Upper Class, and Madame’s Cravings in the Film ‘Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché’ (at 26:48 in Film).” Virtual Screening of the Film "Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché", Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (Virtual Screening through Slipstream), Directed by Pamela B. Green and Vanessa R. Schwartz, Los Angeles, CA, 2022, https://viewslipstream.com/account/general/?updated=account. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. 

Green, Pamela B., and Vanessa R. Schwartz. “Hand Tinted Style in the Film ‘Be Natural: The 

Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché’ (at 6:07 in Film).” Virtual Screening of the Film "Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché", Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (Virtual Screening through Slipstream), Directed by Pamela B. Green and 

Vanessa R. Schwartz, Los Angeles, CA, 2022, https://viewslipstream.com/account/general/?updated=account. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. 

Green, Pamela B., and Vanessa R. Schwartz. “Introduction Illustration to the Film ‘Be Natural: 

The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché’ (at 8:37 in Film).” Virtual Screening of the Film "Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché", Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (Virtual Screening through Slipstream), Directed by Pamela B. Green and Vanessa R. Schwartz, Los Angeles, CA, 2022, https://viewslipstream.com/account/general/?updated=account. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. 

Green, Pamela B., and Vanessa R. Schwartz. “Newspaper Article on Film by Solax Studios in the 

Film ‘Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché’ (at 9:09 in Film).” Virtual Screening of the Film "Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché", Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (Virtual Screening through Slipstream), Directed by Pamela B. Green and Vanessa R. Schwartz, Los Angeles, CA, 2022, https://viewslipstream.com/account/general/?updated=account. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. 

Email Confirmation for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's (LACMA's) Screening of "Be 

Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché". 19 Apr. 2022. 

Hanna, Bridget. “The Forgotten Legacy of the First Woman Filmmaker.” Medium, Medium, 15 

Feb. 2020, https://medium.com/@BridgetJulie/the-forgotten-legacy-of-the-first-woman-filmmaker-89970a877fa5. 

Rose, Steve. “Why Was Pioneering Director Alice Guy-Blaché Erased from History?” The 

Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 20 Jan. 2020, 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Alice Guy-Blaché.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 20 Mar. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alice-Guy-Blache.

Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics+Art, Introductory Lecture.” Robotics+Art Lectures: Module 3: 

Design and 

Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Robotics+Art Lectures for Module 3 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=4852504. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.

Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics+Art, Lecture 1.” Robotics+Art Lectures: Module 3: Design and 

Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Robotics+Art Lectures for Module 3 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=4852504. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics+Art, Lecture 2.” Robotics+Art Lectures: Module 3: Design and 

Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Robotics+Art Lectures for Module 3 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=4852504. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022.

Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics+Art, Lecture 3.” Robotics+Art Lectures: Module 3: Design and 

Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course. Robotics+Art Lectures for Module 3 in the Design and Media Arts (DESMA) 9 Course at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 22 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, California, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=4852504. Accessed 22 Apr. 2022. 

Julia_Berman DESMA 9 Week 3 Post for Blog Assignment

It is fascinating to consider the role of robotic devices in the modern age of industrialization. Although it may be argued that robots will never be able to replicate the intricacies of human intelligence, robotic devices can help humans in many aspects of life, including: by manufacturing goods, by providing services to humans, by providing captivating visual art, and by helping to educate humans.

One important aspect that robotic devices can provide is a nontraditional form of visual art, as Benjamin Walter postulates, “The uniqueness of a work of art is inseparable from its being imbedded in the fabric of Tradition” (Walter 2). For my Film and Television class here at UCLA, one assignment was to watch and analyze an episode of the futuristic science fiction television series Westworld. This episode featured a futuristic view of society set in a traditional Western film location. This film is a form of visual art that allows the audience to ponder a futuristic society in which robots essentially take over the role of humans. Here, robots play a role by being the major part of a work of art; however, the robots in this film give a glimpse into the future of technology and society. 

Westworld 

Reference: photo from https://www.vulture.com/2016/10/westworld-ask-a-futurist.html

Another factor that robots can assist in is the manufacturing of goods. Many places of employment are considering implementing robotic devices to help bring down labor costs and perform tasks more efficiently in the modern world, as I have seen from personal experience. For instance, Chipotle Mexican Grill is now testing a robot named “Chippy,” which can produce chips with the natural variations in taste that occur when chips are made by human employees. 

Dr. Robot

Reference: photo from http://www.robots.org/

Reference: photo from https://www.arduino.cc/

Julia_Berman DESMA 9 Week 2 Blog Comment Assignment

 

Reference: photo from https://crochetcoralreef.org/about/theproject/

Photo of the Crochet Coral Reef project. 

Reference: photo from https://beadmobile.wordpress.com/

Beautiful bead creations based on the mathematical concept of geometry

Photo of an artistic illustration from my Plant Physiology class, based on concepts of geometry (i.e., symmetry)

Photo of “Audiograph,” a Public Art Installation by Nathan Selikoff

Julia_Berman DESMA 9 Week 1 Blog Comment Assignment

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Sketch from high school for the “Doodle for Google” contest in graphic design

Illustration I drew for Plant Physiology class showing the intersection of art and science

Photograph I took, illustrates how photography can be used as an art form to visualize the natural world

Works Cited

Kelly, Kevin. “The Third Culture.” Edge.org, Edge Foundation, Inc, 27 Feb. 1998, 

https://www.edge.org/conversation/kevin_kelly-the-third-culture. 

Snow, C. P. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. Cambridge University Press, 1959. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Toward a Third Culture: Being in Between.” Leonardo, vol. 34, no. 2, 2001, pp. 

121–125., https://doi.org/10.1162/002409401750184672. 

Williams, Christopher M. “A Dangerous Divide: The New York Academy of Sciences.” Nyas, 

Science & the City, Science Debate 2008, Discover, Science Communication Consortium , 24 July 2009, https://www.nyas.org/ebriefings/a-dangerous-divide/?tab=overview.

Wilson, Stephen. “Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology.” Stephen 

Wilson Website; Presented at College Art Association Meetings, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/week-1-resources. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.