Week Seven: Neuroscience & Art


I absolutely love neuroscience. I think it is one of the most interesting and complex science topics. It amazes me, the ability doctors have to know all the intricacies of the brain. I wish I had the stomach to get through rigorous and demanding medical school but alas I have been blessed with a stomach that cannot handle the sight of blood and needles. I guess I will just have to live all my medical wonders through Grey’s Anatomy.

Before this class, I would have scoffed at the idea of neuroscience and art being related as it just seems both cultures are too distinct and set in each of their own respective ways. However, after watching the videos and reading the articles related to this topic of neuroscience and art, the more it brought to my attention that art can truly be seen in any culture. All one has to do is delve deeper and look at all the little individual things that make something art. Art is filled with so many different components that vary from reality to fantasy. Although this may not be the same or as easy for science topics, as they are all based on some sense of facts, it is easy to see how science in relation with art is a form of expression that truly nurtures our mind and makes us wonder.
There is an article in the New York Times that approaches art and neuroscience. In this article, Alva Noe, references a neuroscientist at University College of London, Semir Zeki, who comes up with a clever little saying that goes “it is the brain that sees art and it is the brain that makes art,” (Noe 2015). I like this quote as that right there shows how connected art and neuroscience are. Without our brain, everything we interpret and believe about art would not exist as we would not be able to see or make art.
Further, many of the associations of artists and neuroscientists have resulted in some of the most dynamic inventions and collaborations. I think it also attests to the universal idea that there is something inside us that makes us think and feel, (Descartes).  I think the most interesting thing about art and neuroscience is all that we don’t know. There is so much to learn about the combination of these two cultures! The fact that we haven’t expanded on the thought of Descartes, that the brain proves consciousness through the immaterial soul, amazes me. It’s crazy with all the advancements and knowledge acquired up to this point, we still have not been able to articulate an actual neural outline of consciousness. I think the best thing about neuroscience and art is all that is yet to come. It would be interesting to see how neuroscientists value the arts and how artists value neuroscience. Although there would be a lot of different views and ideas, I think both groups would exhibit the highest degree of respect for one another due to the passion both exemplify in their respective fields. This passion I think will be utilized to answer some of the biggest questions we ask about life and ourselves. I am interested to see where this combination takes our society, and I think you should be too. 
                                          Sources

Noë, Alva. New York Times. "Art and the Limits of Neuroscience."  11 December 2011. Web. 20 May 2017.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. Nanotech Intro Video. UCLA, May 18, 2017.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. Nanotech for Artists pt 1 Video. UCLA, May 18, 2017

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. Nanotech for Artists pt 2 Video. UCLA, May 18, 2017.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. Nanotech for Artists pt 3 Video. UCLA, May 18, 2017.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. Nanotech for Artists pt 4 Video. UCLA, May 19, 2017.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. Nanotech for Artists pt 5 Video. UCLA, May 19, 2017.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. Nanotech for Artists pt 6 Video. UCLA, May 20, 2017.

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