Event Blog 1

Au Vo 

DESMA 9 

Dr. Vesna

28 April 2024

COLOR, LIGHT, MOTION, AND ACTION

On Saturday, I attended the  “COLOR, LIGHT, MOTION” event that was hosted by Dr. Victoria Vesna. During this event, Professor Kluszczyński, Professor Vesna, and other art experts spoke on the presence and influence of cybernetics in art. It was an interesting experience and topic to learn more about especially because it heavily revolved around the intersection of design and technology—something that has been an integral part of DESMA 9. 

Listening throughout the event, I immediately thought of the lectures and materials from Week 4 when we discussed art and medical technology. In a way, the discussion of cybernetics is closely related to this. For example, RoboCop is one of the leading icons of cybernetics. In the movie trailer, we can see the demonstration of how cybernetics work through the lens of an artist. 

RoboCop Trailer

        Additionally, the speakers talked about how cybernetics are a complex part of art, but it is rooted in more fundamental concepts such as simple shapes. This made me think of the assigned reading Flatlands. In this story, Abbott writes about how different simple shapes are able to work together to form a more complex, and meaningful piece of art (Abbott 3). 

Flatlands

Most importantly to me, cybernetics and the topics brought up by the speakers are so fascinating to me because I am interested in medicine. Cybernetics is essentially the bridge between art, design, technology, and medicine. I really enjoyed this exploration, especially when London Tsai, Professor Vesna, and Professor Kluszczyński began discussing the marriage of his father. London Tsai's parents marriage had a large impact on his artwork in cybernetics. This reminded me that there is very much a human aspect to art in addition to its influences in science and technology. This can be seen in this work of art from the "BioArt" series. This work is simplistic in nature, but it integrates different factors that the speakers were talking about.

A-Positive

        I greatly enjoyed this event as the discussion of cybernetics was very pertinent to my major and field of study. Most importantly, this event served as a nice recap of the topics that I have been learning about for the past few weeks in DESMA 9. 

       Registration and Proof:

Works Cited

“Positive.” A, 1997, www.ekac.org/apositive.html. 

“Flatland.” Flatland, by E. A. Abbott, 1884. Accessed April 12, 2024.   

          https://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/eaa/FL.HTM.

“Robocop Movie Trailer (1987).” YouTube, YouTube, 1 Nov. 2007,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mLmHUbC240.