Event 1 Blog

-

     On April 10th at 6:00pm, I attended Hannah Landacker and Patricia Olynyk's Zoom presentation where they dissected the intersection between biology, industrialization, and consumerism. By analyzing multiple newspaper ads and propaganda, the audience was introduced to the pervasive influence of chemicals and pesticides in our foods and daily supplies. 

armour company 1958 kre-mor emulsifier best cakes baking vintage ad on eBid United States | 172557269


Just as we explored the intersection between robots and art in Week 3, industrialization continues to revolutionize the way we produce goods. Much like Ford's assembly line talked about in Week 3 lecture 1, our food production system has evolved into an assembly line of its own, driven by the quest for efficiency (Vesna). However, this efficiency comes with costs, as pesticides are used to streamline processes but introduce new consequences. In "Assessing the impact of pesticides: An Overview," C.A. Jawale and others, state "Pesticide uses has raised serious concern not only of the potential effect on human health but also about impact on wildlife and sensitive ecosystem" (Jawale et al). To build on this argument, Landacker and Olynyk share a study that they conducted where they found that emulsifiers in food increase mucus levels in the small intensities of porcine (Landacker and Olynyk). By focusing on pigs, they were able to simulate conditions similar to those in humans due to physiological similarities between the two species. This study shows that emulsifiers commonly used in our daily foods could potentially disrupt the delicate balance of our gut microbiota and intestinal functions. 

    After attending this event, I would definitely recommend my fellow classmates to attend if they do another presentation. I really enjoyed viewing the old newspaper ads and propaganda regarding this subject matter. In all, Landacker and Olynyk did a fabulous job at presenting this issue and overall widened my perspective on the foods I eat. 



Works Cited 

“Armour Company 1958 Kre-Mor Emulsifier Best Cakes Baking Vintage Ad on EBID United States:

     172557269.” Https://Www.Ebid.Net, www.ebid.net/us/for-sale/armour-company-1958-kre-mor-

    emulsifier-best-cakes-baking-vintage-ad-172557269.htm. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024. 

Jawale, C. A., K. H. Rajput, and B. J. Ugale. "Assessing the impact of pesticides: An overview."
     International Journal of Life Sciences 5.3 (2017): 474-479

Landacker, Hannah and Olynyk's, Patricia. "Laser." 10 April 2024. UCLA

Vesna, Victoria. "Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic / Robot Art." Lecture Part 1






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 1: Two Cultures

-
Image
 This week's discussions have emphasized the importance of challenging the entrenched separation between art and science, thinking about C.P. Snow's desire to "rethink our education" (Snow 19). Professor Vensa's lectures and Sir Ken Robinson's shed light on how societal structures create these false divisions, particularly within academia (Vensa "Two Cultures PT. II) ( RSA Animate:... ). Reflecting on my own experience, I have felt the separation all my life. You are either an artist, whether in music, theater, painting, etc., or you are a scientist. There was no in-between. That persisted during my college years when I had to select my major, thus committing myself to one side of campus. In my opinion, we need a paradigm shift. I don't think we need to fit into one category or the other as these two are often very similar or help each other out. However, amidst this dichotomy, the concept of a third culture emerges as a beacon of hope. Professor Vesn
Read more

Week 3: Robotics + Art

-
Image
Industrialization has deeply impacted and revolutionized the way art is produced, disseminated, and consumed. Mechanical reproduction such as the printing press has revolutionized “...the way people conceive and describe the world they live in and ushering a production of mass production and knowledge exchange”(Vesna). While this accessibility may sound advantageous, the printing press and later photography, film, and digital media, came with tremendous trade-offs.      To help us delve deeper into the interplay between art and technology, Walter Benjamin offers a thought-provoking analysis of this topic. In his book, Benjamin highlights how mechanical reproduction technologies spoil artworks of their aura. Mechanical reproduction technologies on the other hand diminish the uniqueness of pieces challenging traditional notions of art value and function. In his piece, Benjamin claims, “Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: its presence in time
Read more