Message Board Topic: Picasso & Einstein

During the early 1900’s two men perhaps had the greatest impact on 20th century culture: Picasso and Einstein. They shared one thing in common: trying to find a way to describe how things can happen at the same time, in the same place. Einstein developed the Theory of Relativity (special and general) while Picasso co-developed Cubism with Georges Braque. They both were influenced by one man: a mathematician named Henri Poincare.

 

How do you think math could have helped Picasso and Einstein develop their ideas?

What do you think is the relationship between these two men?

How did they impact the 20th century?

Message Board Topic: Artistic Theory

Other disciplines like science, psychology, anthropology and sociology use a theory system. This means there is an initial premise or idea which guides the work. The standard system works something like this: 1) observations of the world inspire an idea, 2) a theory is constructed (this is a hypothesis or statement), 3) the theory is tested through practice or study and 4) the theory is solidified by combining the initial observations, hypotheses and studies in a single, succinct statement.

Artists use a similar mode, such as the futurist or surrealist manifestos. Describe in your own words a theory exhibited by: 1) current artist(s), 2) past artist(s) or 3) yourself (make sure to include the type or movement you follow).

Message Board Topic (EC): The Brain-Universe & Neurocosmology

Todd Siler is a cosmologist and theorist who has proposed a new way of looking at the human brain and the universe. He has developed a new, interdisciplinary field called neurocosmology which is based on his previous work: artscience (a field which combines art and science). Neurocosmology states that the brain and the universe are organized the same way – they have the same patterns. Below you can see an image of a mouse’s brain cell and a computer generated image of the universe. The similarities between the two images seems undeniable – the patterns are the same!

Why is this important? What do you think this means? How does seeing the image below seem to better justify Todd Siler’s theories?

Message Board Topic: Where is My Mind?

How does the mind relate to the brain? Some theorists think that the mind is the software or program application whereas the brain is the hardware or computer. Other theorists do not agree with this model/metaphor for the brain and mind.

This dilemma is called the mind/body problem and has been tackled by philosophers and psychologists alike. What do you think? Where is the mind? What is the mind? Does it exist in the brain or outside the brain?

Once you have determined where the mind is, think about where creativity exists. How do you define creativity? What makes someone or something creative?

Message Board Topic: S-Curves - Why or Why Not?

S-Curves are elusive, interesting and eye-catching. Why? What is it about the S-Curve that draws the attention of the viewer? Furthermore, why are s-curves so intimately tied to the female form?

For the most part, art historians and artists have identified the s-curve in the female form, but not in the male. Is this a bias of a male-dominated discipline for centuries and centuries? Is it because males establish the rules and are (for the most part) attracted to the female form? Or is there something inherent in the female/s-curve that is beautiful?

Think of examples of non-female s-curves. The fact that non-feminine s-curves exist; does this prove that there is an inherent beauty not tied a previously male-dominated field?

Message Board Topic: Impressionism Dilemmas

It has been said that one of the prime motivations for the Impressionists to develop a painterly style that rejected the practices of Classicism and Realism, is due to the invention of photography. What would be the point of painting if the photograph could represent the outside world more realistically and more accurately than a painter ever could?

Do you think the technology of the future will eventually cause similar shifts in modern art? Do you think technology will replace the artist?

Can you think of similar situations that photography or digital art might have gone through or will go through like painting did during the late nineteenth century?

Message Board Topic: Stolen Spirits

Some indigenous peoples believe that if you take their photograph you will “steal their spirit.” Their name and their image are so interconnected to their identity, that they are actually one in the same. This means if you say or know their name you have a certain amount power over them. And if you take their image you have even more power over them.

How much do you think your image is tied to who you are or how you define your identity?

Why do you think these people feel this way about their image?

Are there similarities to how we feel about our own personal image?