Two Cultures

Fundamentals of Game Design: Math & Art In order to produce interactive worlds that engage users through problem-solving, game design must draw from the fields of computer science/programming, creative writing, and graphic design. It is at the junction of math and art that this form of play can be constructed. Professor and Director of Film & Media Studies and Professor of Computer Science & Engineering, Ian Bogost, is an award-winning game designer. In a presentation where he explores the theory and concepts of play and games, he shares that play is paradoxical. Play produces a feeling of freedom through the reducing, rather than expanding, of opportunities. This is devised through the implementation of constraints and limitations. He explains this core theory, at the root of all game design, with the nine dot puzzle.  Nine Dot Puzzle The problem is to connect the dots with no more than 4 straight lines without lifting your hand from the paper. Initially, the puzzle se...

Hox Zodiac Our planet’s environmental crisis is intensifying at an exponential rate. As air pollution, waste disposal, climate change, and the greenhouse effect drastically worsen, it is imperative that we reflect on the sources of these issues. This environmental degeneration can be attributed to decisions made by humans at both a small and large scale. Whether it be the small action of tossing a recyclable can in the waste bin, the habitual partaking in fast fashion trends, or the poor decision making of those in leadership positions, all of these factors can be traced back to the root of our environmental crisis: egocentrism. To begin to heal the Earth, we must first change the way we understand and relate to it. Humans are not the only organisms to live off of Earth’s natural resources. We are only one of the species in this multi-organismal world. During the Hox Zodiac event, various artists and neuroscientists spoke on horses, and the human relationship with them as companions, f...

Space + Art Although only recently has commercial space travel become more accessible, space art has a remarkably long history. Amid astronauts and billionaires, like Jeff Bezos, exploring the wonders of the void above, artists have ventured into exploring what art looks like in the context of the universe.  Jeff Bezos Space Travel When space and art are explored together, the unique components each entity contributes allows for innovative discoveries that could never otherwise be created by either entity on its own. A number of artists have launched their art into space to be appreciated against the infinitely black and vast canvas above. In 1969, artists Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, John Chamberlain, and Claes Oldenburg, all contributed small drawings to a small ceramic art piece titled the Moon Museum (Nunes).  Moon Museum The piece was smuggled onto the Apollo 12 spacecraft and left on the moon by astronauts. More recently, in 2014 Japanese artist Makoto Azuma launch...

Math + Art When the fields of math and art are bridged, they are able to make incredible advancements that could never otherwise be achieved by either field on its own. Although for many it may be hard to imagine that art has anything to contribute to mathematics, it can introduce creative elements to the more analytical discipline that makes for easier understanding of concepts.  Math Meets Art Looking at arithmetic problems through a lens of art allows for numbers to be studied and understood from a completely visual level. Similarly, math has a lot to contribute to the field of art. One of the most impressive aspects of visual art is its ability to capture the depth of reality within the form of a flat canvas.  Perspective The execution of accurate perspective viewpoints that allow for the depiction of three-dimensional objects in two-dimensional planes is realized through geometry formulas. Without these mathematical algorithms, space can appear distorted and the captivati...

Nanotech + Art When the fields of nanotechnology and art are bridged, they are able to make innovative discoveries that could never otherwise be created by either field on its own. In his years of work experimenting and learning how to best maximize the relationship between these two disciplines, Boo Chapple developed a project where audio speakers are made out of bone. Contributing to the shift from emphasis of purely visual culture to one based on sensing and connectivity, he found a way to utilize the piezoelectric nature of the bone matrix to generate a vibration in the bone that produces audible sound.  Uniting science and art, Chapple effectively demonstrated how visualization and creation complement the complexity of atomic and molecular technology.  His work has inspired other artists and entrepreneurs to explore our human capacity to sense. Bone conduction headphones are just one of these innovati...

  Neuroscience + Art When the fields of neuroscience and art are bridged, they are able to create experiences that could never otherwise be created by either field on its own. Although neuroscientists have explored the consciousnesses and biological makeup of the other sentient beings that accompany us on this Earth, the information gathered has largely been confined within academic articles and research papers.  While artists have captured the essence of other sentient beings within paintings and sculptures, the art typically positions the beholder as an observant.  Neither field has truly or effectively approached the philosophical dilemma regarding humans’ ability to embody the experiences of other sentient beings. This experience is critical because it not only gives us a better understanding of the creatures that we share our planet with, but also helps us build a genuine empathy for their well-being. When these two disciplines were united through the Octopus Brainst...