Month: March 2014

After viewing The Development of the Arts and The Development of the Sciences murals by the Runquist brothers this week I have decided that both murals beautifully display the history and evolution of the field of art and science. According the reading by Erika Doss I would argue that the creation of these murals is an example of well-done public art and “is a creative, participatory, critical and analytical process. We must tell our stories, and encourage others of all ages to tell their stories” (11). I am aware that the fact that these murals are displayed in a public area means that controversy over either the subject or the representation is unavoidable, but I would argue that the murals being viewable in a library of a college campus is an appropriate location for such historically accurate depictions of art and science. I would also argue that the location of these murals within the library is an appropriate location because it aids in the beautification process of a historically not appealing location.

I personally enjoy the Development of the Arts mural more than the Development of the Sciences mural because it is more relevant to my personal interests. I like how the painter included another form of art in each square of the mural as a fluid way of showing how art has changed over time. I agree with Doss’ statement that “today’s public art diversity speaks to America’s diversity-and to the increasing number of Americans who want to see their cultural interests represented in the public sphere” (2), I would argue that this mural provided representation of art in an environment where it was historically not present. There could be arguments that a mural focusing on art does not belong in a building that is focused on furthering education of a variety of students with different focuses and interests, but I would counter this argument by saying that the mural of the Development of the Sciences balances the perceived inequalities of the representation of different interests held by the student body.

Although I favor the mural about the arts over the sciences, I find the historical people, discoveries and inventions depicted in the mural of the Development of the Sciences very accurate and appealing. The fact that my major has required me to take a large amount of science courses makes the events and subjects in this mural easy for me to relate and identify. I specifically find the square two from the bottom on the right easy to relate to because it looks like it is depicting people being taught about the sciences in a classroom environment.

These murals being exhibited in the University of Oregon Knight Library allows for distinction between this library and the numerous libraries found on campuses around the country. It has been argued that “public art has been charged with generation ‘place-bound identity’ and lending a sense of distinction and authenticity to the nation’s ever more homogenous public spaces” (Doss 5), the murals being only viewable at this one location I believe makes the library authentic and diverse. I believe that the role of public art is to appeal to visitors of the location while having “to cater to multiple constituencies and, as any politician knows, you can’t please everyone” (Doss, 10). This difficulty to please everyone is the basis for any complications regarding public art’s appropriateness and placement, I personally believe that if a person does not like a piece of art that has been placed in a public location that they should avoid that location instead of possibly alienating another person by publicly appealing an artwork’s placement.

 

Doss, E. (2006, October). Public art controversy: Cultural expression and civic debate. Retrieved from http://www.americansforthearts.org/pdf/networks/pan/doss_controversy.pdf.

Keywords:

• Creative
• Original
• Paint
• Loft
• Musician
• Unclean

At first I was confused when Lessig mentioned that he believed that there are two differing cultures, my confusion came from the fact that both cultures incorporate professionals. While I accept that a certain level of professionalism is necessary for the cultures to be beneficial and successful, I would think that two cultures would want to be as different as possible. The first culture “speaks of professionalism” (Lessig 84) and requires authority and integrity, while the other culture believes in empowering common citizens while still having a form of authority that is capable of answering audience member’s questions. After reading further into the differences between the cultures, I realize that both forms of cultures are necessary but that the second form of culture that is fueled by amateurs as well as professionals is more important for the creative process.

Lessig, L. (2008). Comparing Cultures. Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy (pp. 84-116). New York: Penguin Press HC, The.

In “Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins” Beverly Jones discussed her belief “that old cultural patterns do not die. They may fade or become more evident; that is, they may be deemphasized or emphasized” (21). Jones’ belief is supported by three historical examples, one being the evolution of computer graphics. The reading mentions that, “in the 1940s analogue computers were used to generate the earliest computer graphics” (22), which incorporated earlier ideas by Ben F. Lapofsky to present graphics as phase forms. This form was already a modification of the Henry drawing computer, which was “a modified analog computer designed by D.P. Henry that produced drawings by a combination of pen movements and table movements” (Jones 23). Jones continues to demonstrate the evolution of computer graphics by stating that, “it was not until the 1960s that digital imagery replaced the prevailing analog imagery” (23), which incorporated alphanumeric hardcopies that are still prevalent in computer graphics today.  At around the same time these hardcopies were used to complete complex geometric calculations, which supported Jones’ claim that “the development of computer graphics clearly reflects trends diminishing the rigidity of boundaries among disciplinary applications” (22). This would mean that the evolution of computer graphics benefited the programming community as well as people in other fields.

In today’s culture Jones’ belief that cultural patterns do not die can be seen when evaluating the evolution of the music industry, specifically the distribution of music. Initially records were created by record labels that controlled their release to the public, then “the cassette arrived in the early 1970’s” (Knab 2) which incorporated the same techniques of recording songs, but used new technology to allow for more widespread distribution in society. Next came compact discs (CDs)which “became popular when it was mass manufactured by Philips in 1980” (Bellis 1), which used once again upgraded technology that replaced cassettes due to the fact that they could be easily used with computers. With the creation of Napster in 1998 “the first peer-to-peer file trading system” (Greg 1) that allowed users to share their digital music library, made CDs less popular despite the legality of the system. Now companies such as iTunes allow users to digitally download songs instead of purchasing CDs, which includes technology used by Napster, but instead of users sharing music, the users have the capability to purchase songs already owned by iTunes. Although major changes have occurred in the last few decades in the distribution of music, records, cassettes, CDs and digital downloads share the same origin and all still include similar steps such as the artists recording their songs and for the most part the process of distribution be record labels.

 

Jones, B.J. (1990). Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins. LEONARDO: Digital Image-Digital Cinema Supplemental Issue, pp.21-30.

Bellis, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://inventors.about.com/od/qrstartinventors/a/CD.htm

Knab, C. (2009, 11 19). How music repeats itself. Retrieved from http://miyb.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-music-history-repeats-itself.html

Greg. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://urbanhonking.com/ideasfordozens/2008/01/12/a_brief_history_of_the_music_i/.