jessicaberejikianDESMA9

As technology continues to make advancements on Earth, we are able to expand our research into space. The first small discoveries surrounding the solar system, such as the telescope or Copernicus’s Heliocentric model, allowed us to investigate and further develop technological advancements that would promote the commencement of modern space exploration.    The heliocentric model– Williams, Matt. “What is the heliocentric model of the universe?” Phys.org , 5 January 2016, https://phys.org/news/2016-01-heliocentric-universe.html. Accessed 27 May 2022. The first living thing to enter space was a Russian dog named Laika– unfortunately, she did not survive the trip; however she became an institution within Russia. Before the launch, Laika was celebrated by civilians which shows just how significant this mission was going to be– this would be the first time that any living thing would leave Earth and explore what was beyond; the mission marked a new revolutionary checkpoint for spac...

The concept of nanotechnology began as a series of theoretical ideas with Richard Feynman’s sarcastic comment on how much more we could accomplish if everything was much smaller– this developed into a very real subsection of technology that is now an integral part of our everyday lives. It has allowed us to explore an entirely new dimension of particles which promoted technological and scientific innovation to revolutionize our lives; we have been able to use it to not only modify our food, but also transform the medicine world through the development of cancer fighting drugs.  The “Buckyball” – a chemical compound composed of carbon atoms (discovered using nano tech) – “Discovering the Buckyball.” Engineering and Technology History Wiki , 14 September 2015, https://ethw.org/Discovering_the_Buckyball. Accessed 20 May 2022. Nanoparticles are a concept first explored due to nanotechnology; they are found everywhere in nature, yet can also be artificially placed in order to enhance a ...

Jessica Irish is a director of several movies including The Mortal Plastik which explores the increasingly toxic production and consumption of plastic products and its effect on the environment. At the beginning of the event, she mentioned the idea of using storytelling to affect change rather than statistics or other data– I saw this concept to be deeply reflected in her projects. I find this so interesting and something that I have never considered before, as in the past, I have considered quantitative data to be more persuasive than qualitative; however, after seeing how much her short film was able to connect with the audience, I am beginning to understand this new form of convincing.  Screen shot from The Mortal Plastik – one of the many hand-drawn sketches that emphasize how often we touch and use plastic.  The way Jessica Irish began the creative process for The Mortal Plastik was so inspirational. She began with a passion and a sketchbook, and allowed her mind to wan...

          In past lessons, we have explored the idea of how art can encourage studies of the human body in order to expedite the development of new medical technologies. Now, it is interesting to explore this topic through the sole focus of the brain. We see how detailed drawings of the deep inner workings of the brain can help us understand both the conscious and the unconscious, and how this understanding can further medical expansion in this psychological area.  “brain art – layer fMRI blog.” layer fMRI blog , 25 November 2017, https://layerfmri.com/2017/11/25/brainart/. Accessed 12 May 2022. Franz Joseph Gall was one of the main contributors to this field through his developed concept of Phrenology which explores an individual's potential through studying the shape of their skull. He separated the brain into 27 sections and labeled each one as a different faculty– 19 of these faculties being shared with those of different species. He explored this ...

The part of biotechnology and art that I find most intriguing is the controversy concerning the ethical dilemma of lab experimentation with animals. While all topics we have covered so far involve technology, this one is much more sensitive in the way that it incorporates living things; it elaborates on an abstract idea that I have never considered before– the idea that life can be a form of art. I do believe that there should be some limit to human creativity in relation to this field; however, determining this line seems nearly impossible when it comes to the self-expression that drives and inspires art– how can you create boundaries within such a free form movement and expect that people will strive to stay within them?  Artist Kathy High explores these boundaries through the relationship that she forms with lab rats. As someone with an autoimmune disorder, she attempts to read them and understand when they are in pain, hungry, tired, etc., and by doing this, humanizes what were...

I underwent many x-rays and MRIs in my childhood due to the intense sport that I played, and while I was never in the radiologist’s office for a good reason, I was always so excited to be there purely because I loved to look at the resulting scans– it was like playing I-Spy trying to spot a break in my bone or a tear in my ligament. I loved this so much to the point of me dreaming of becoming a radiologist when I grew up. It really is like a piece of art, so many details that I could stare at forever. The intersections and angles seem so posed, yet it is all crafted by nature and structured in the strongest, most efficient way possible.  Artist and businessman Virgil Wong uses technological scans and anatomical drawings as some of many forms of media of which he produces art with. He uses these pieces to allow others to physically be able to see inside of the body– he morphed this into an app that implores its users to evaluate their health information which allows them to make inf...