KaitlynTerryDESMA9

Critical thinking regarding the relationship between identity, the body, and technology in contemporary art was stimulated by the course materials. The most influential pieces were Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle, David Cronenberg's Crash (1996), and Heather Dewey-Hagborg's bio-art projects. The idea that our genetic identity can be stolen without our consent and used to make assumptions about who we are is explored in Dewey-Hagborg's Stranger Visions. Her more recent pieces, such as Probably Chelsea, challenge the ways in which biological data is woven into a larger web of systematic bias, commodification, and surveillance. In Crash (1996), the sexual fascination of characters with car crashes creates a narrative in which trauma, machinery, and identity become indistinguishable, illustrating how technology rewires our desires and understanding of the body. With a wealth of biological and symbolic imagery, Barney's Cremaster Cycle challenged the reader to consider ...

  In the context of industrialization, Walter Benjamin's essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" emphasizes how mechanization affects authenticity and creativity. Benjamin contends that when art is mechanically replicated, it loses its "aura" and becomes more suited for mass consumption and political purposes rather than ritual and authenticity. Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (1982), a dystopian future film where humans coexist with "replicants"—bioengineered robots created to mimic humans—echoes this worry.      The cityscape in the movie reflects Benjamin's concern that mechanical reproduction would diminish the public's awareness of the aura and authenticity of art. The replicants' battle to be perceived as "real" reflects society's ambiguity regarding what constitutes authenticity. The way society reacts to this change is quite conflicted. As demonstrated in Blade Runner, mechanization creates a deep...

 This week's lesson demonstrated the potential connections between mathematics art and science. I learned more about how dimensions affect creativity and perception from Flatland. Strandbeests by Theo Jansen showed how mathematical, engineering, and physics concepts can give artwork realistic movement. He uses exact calculations to make his creatures walk, demonstrating how math can bring design to life. This knowledge was expanded by the PBS fractals documentary, which showed how basic equations can produce intricate, realistic-looking patterns. These illustrations made it easier for me to see math as a creative engine underpinning scientific advancement and artistic innovation.      I learned how profoundly mathematics can impact both art and science from M.C. Escher's work. His use of symmetry, geometry, and impossible perspectives—such as in Ascending and Descending or Relativity—illustrates how mathematical ideas can contradict our understanding of reality and s...

Hi! My name is Kaitlyn Terry. As a psychology major, "two cultures" speaks to the balance between the scientific study of the mind and the more humanistic aspects of understanding behavior. It allows me to explore more of the research and can help me think more critically and creatively. The article "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution" by C.P. Snow examines the growing divide between the sciences and the humanities. He contends that thinking is becoming fragmented into conflicting cultures, which limits people's ability to comprehend and interact with complicated societal issues. Snow accuses intellectual elites in the humanities of undervaluing scientific knowledge, contending that dialogue and understanding between these groups impede advancement and the creation of a broader plan for addressing global issues. Going on the walk makes you realize a lot when you look at different spots. UCLA's campus structure reflects a divide between sciences a...