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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 pr...

  Throughout history, art and math have been connected in a dynamic, enduring relationship, demonstrating how mathematics has profoundly influenced art. Mathematics has provided a language and framework that artist utilize to create, analyze, and understand the visual elements of their work. Professor Vesna’s lecture underscores the significance of Piero Della Francesca as one of the leading artistic mathematicians. She states Piero della Francesca focused on “...studying the geometry of vision” commonly referred to as perspective ( Vesna 18:35 ). In J.V. Field’s book “Piero Della Francesca. A Mathematician Artist,” he states “Perspective was a form of study in which it was acknowledged as legitimate to use mathematics in the pursuit of natural philosophy” (Feild 376). In other words, this quote suggests that perspective was recognized as an approved area where mathematics could be applied to strengthen understanding and observation of the natural world.  One of Francesca’s mo...

 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...