Cydney's blog

Week 9: Vacuoles of Poison

Maru's "Vacuoles" was truly eye-opening. I have never before been so moved by an art piece. What made her exhibit all the more compelling was the story behind the art and how she went about creating her work. The lead contamination from battery plants right here in LA is an issue I was completely unaware was even a possibility.

Week 8: CRISPR and a Post-Antibiotic World

I found the videos on CRISPR that we watched in class to be very interesting. I had heard about CRISPR and CRISPR babies in particular, but it was fascinating to learn more in depth about the technology and its applications. Specifically I found it intriguing -- and I must admit, disturbing -- to see the actual products of genetic modification using CRISPR. The images of pigs lacking fat and muscle mass to the point where you could see ribs and beagles that look like body builders were shocking and seemed right out of a horror sci fi movie.

Week 7: Nature and National Parks

It was really interesting to hear about everyone’s different ideas and associations about nature. I really enjoyed having class outside and our conversation about man’s effect on nature and man’s recreation of nature really got me thinking about national parks. I think they’re an interesting concept because on one hand they exist in order to preserve nature and its beauty; however, on the other hand they are places where people can go to observe nature that is maintained by man.

Week 6: Midterm coutnerproposals

Yuna Park — Chemical-Free Cosmetics:
    I think Yuna’s app is really cool. I personally don’t follow beauty too much, however, even I have heard about Korea’s amazing natural skincare and makeup. I think an app to make people aware of these brands and products is a great idea. I think it has a lot of potential and could be very useful to people who want to live a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle and want the ability to include their beauty products into that lifestyle.

Week 6: Midterm coutnerproposals

Yuna Park — Chemical-Free Cosmetics:
    I think Yuna’s app is really cool. I personally don’t follow beauty too much, however, even I have heard about Korea’s amazing natural skincare and makeup. I think an app to make people aware of these brands and products is a great idea. I think it has a lot of potential and could be very useful to people who want to live a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle and want the ability to include their beauty products into that lifestyle.

Week 3: The Dark Origins of the Nutcracker

I found the Hox Zodiac Dinner we had in class so interesting. I loved learning about each of the animals and hearing stories that others had about them. I am a rat, and while exploring information about rats online, I was reminded of one that comes around during Christmas time: The Mouse King. The Mouse King is whom the nutcracker fights to protect Clara in the story The Nutcracker. In my research I was surprised to learn about the origin story of the famous ballet as well as The Mouse King’s origin story.

Week 2: The Beauty of Bread

It is no wonder that cooking is called culinary art. Looking at bread making specifically, it is an art to mix such simple ingredients together and create sustenance that people across the globe cannot live without. The episode “Air” from the Netflix documentary Cooked offers a fascinating look at the art and science behind bread making and the importance of bread. Pollan recalls the intimidation he felt at the thought of attempting to make bread.

Week 1: Art and Nature Collide

Wenda Gu's workshop really stood out to me because he uses natural mediums to create his work. Not only does he create beautiful pieces of art but he also makes intelligent statements about life. He has created art using human hair, menstrual blood, tea leaves, algae paint and more. It was fascinating to hear him speak about his work and how it has been the subject of controversy many times. I found it particularly interesting to hear him describe how his art fades and is temporary because the materials he works with eventually succumb to degradation as part of the natural life cycle.

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