Week Two

As a History major I'm aware of how math was a large influence on art and science back in times like the Renaissance. Math and Art are not usually two concepts grouped together in the same context. This week I learned that Art relies so much on math to be as beautiful as it is. When comparing cave art to Renaissance art, the differences are stark. As talked about in the second lecture by Professor Vesna, this new art featured forms of math such as horizontal lines pointing to a specific point added depth and realness to the painting. The Golden Ratio as used in the Mona Lisa and the Parthenon, adds beauty, attractiveness, and symmetry to a piece. (Vesna Lecture 2). Recent studies have shown that pieces of artwork (any form: painting, architecture, etc.) closer to the Golden Ratio are more attractive, hence why the Mona Lisa is so beautiful even lacking eyebrows. The science of technology and math plays into the fourth dimension. In Linda Dalrymple Henderson’s article “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion”, computers allow all three of these categories to fuse together to create something wonderful. With the integration of these three aspects and applying it to the fourth dimension, a spatial dimension additional to those determining length, area, and volume, scientist can “manipulate four-dimensional figures on the display of a computer screen. The results of this technological advance are four-dimensional images of an intricacy and accuracy never dreamed of…” (Henderson P. 209). Before this lecture, I was unaware of the fourth dimension and did not know computer math and scientist work together to solve this mysterious concept.

The Mona Lisa explained

Rudy Rucker's 4th Dimension

Good Will Hunting Math Scene

After this week’s lecture, the trailer for “Good Will Hunting” caught my eye. The movie itself is the art, and the math inside the movie is the other part of the equation. The director used math as his vessel for his artistic ability. The director uses math as the basis of his story and the main component of the movie’s main character. In this case math allows for the creation of a beautiful movie. Math appears to be the basis for the creative work and expression for artists/scientists. The juxtaposition of math, art, and science is the unlikely hood of these mixing. Deeper insight allows for us to see how math mixes together to evolve art and science for the better.

Works Cited

Chhapia, Hemali. "Mumbai Physicists Uncover Link between Lord Shiva, Mona Lisa - Times of India." The Times of India. City, 10 July 2016. Web. 13 Apr. 2017. <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mumbai-physicists-uncover-link-between-Lord-Shiva-Mona-Lisa/articleshow/53136104.cms>.

Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion." Leonardo 17.3 (1984): 209. Web.

Rucker, Rudy. The Fourth Dimension: A Guided Tour of the Higher Universe. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. Print.

Samyeargin. "Good Will Hunting Scene (Math Problem)." YouTube. YouTube, 14 Sept. 2008. Web. 13 Apr. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7b0cLn-wHU>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 9 April 2012. Web. 12 April 2017. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg&feature=player_embedded>