week seven blog | susana esqueda, desma9

 Wk7 Blog 

The readings and lectures for this week were really interesting and thought-provoking because they forced me to question what it means to be present in reality. I have always been fascinated by the brain and psyche, especially because the mind is so powerful, and yet we truly do not know much about it. The study of neuroscience is a continually evolving field, and we are constantly discovering new information. Something that is particularly interesting to me is the close concatenation of neuroscience and art; both are fields which “provide a set of tools for investigating different levels of the constructive process” (Blaszczyk); they overlap in various forms. 

Several artists and scientists (like Rik Gern and Ana Jakovljevic) utilize art in order to “illustrate the brain’s complexities” (Leman)—through art as the medium of conceptualization and tangible visualization of scientific theories and concepts, scientists and artists collectively are able to magnify their understanding of fields such as neuroscience. It is a beautiful imbrication of art and science, and further proves the interconnectedness of visuals in all the nuanced layers of existence.

“Looking Inward and Outward by Rik Gern.” MLTSHP, www.mltshp.com/p/1JS3D. Accessed 19 May 2023. 

Ana Jakovljevic, “Perineuronal Nets in Spring.” Twitter. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9g_J-qXYAAeuZ5?format=jpg&name=4096x4096. Accessed 19 May 2023.

 It is also fascinating to learn about how the entanglement of art and neuroscience has real cognitive benefits, since “exposure to visual art and participation in creative activities creates positive brain changes,” (“Special Report on Art and the Brain”). 

Understanding the mind, brain and psyche has always been incredibly prevalent, but something that particularly intrigues me is the understanding of dreams and consciousness. This is especially a prevalent theme in film—the negotiation between the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind. Freud’s dream theory “suggests that dreams represent unconscious desires” (Cherry); in other words, dreams stem from the realm of the unconscious mind, which is automatic and “not available to introspection” (“Subconscious vs Unconscious Mind”). Films such as Inception provide a take on dream theory which imagines a way in which humans are able to manipulate their unconscious minds and take control of their—and others’—dreams. It is but one example of many films which attempts to conceptualize the intricacies of the mind. Ultimately, neuroscience is an incredible field of study, and I am excited to learn more about the connections between the mind, science, and art. 

Isaacs, Bruce. “The Great Movie Scenes: Inception’s Mindbending Paris Scene.” The Conversation, 21 Dec. 2022, www.theconversation.com/the-great-movie-scenes-inceptions-mindbending-paris-scene-145620.  

References List

Blaszczyk, Connie. “3Q: The Interface between Art and Neuroscience.” MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, news.mit.edu/2019/3-questions-sarah-schwettmann-interface-between-art-and-neuroscience-0416.  Accessed 19 May 2023. 

Cherry, Kendra. “Why Do We Dream.” Verywell Mind, www.verywellmind.com/why-do-we-dream-top-dream-theories-2795931#:~:text=Dreams%20May%20Reflect%20the%20Unconscious,as%20aggressive%20and%20sexual%20instincts. Accessed 19 May 2023.

Leman, Jennifer. “The Brain in Images: Top Entries in the Art of Neuroscience.” Scientific American, 29 July 2019, www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-brain-in-images-top-entries-in-the-art-of-neuroscience1/. 

“Special Report on Art and the Brain.” Art & Creativity for Healing, 16 July 2022, www.art4healing.org/reports/special-report-art-and-the-brain/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvJyjBhApEiwAWz2nLQblsnr1hdrFmnEo6U8aJVStkYK9cP95g_lIBj-w8SFjcy5J2dQDXRoC6g8QAvD_BwE.  

“Subconscious vs Unconscious Mind.” Diffen, www.diffen.com/difference/Subconscious_vs_Unconscious_mind#:~:text=The%20subconscious%20is%20that%20part,memory%2C%20affect%2C%20and%20motivation. Accessed 19 May 2023. 

Images

Ana Jakovljevic, “Perineuronal Nets in Spring.” Twitter. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9g_J-qXYAAeuZ5?format=jpg&name=4096x4096. Accessed 19 May 2023.

Isaacs, Bruce. “The Great Movie Scenes: Inception’s Mindbending Paris Scene.” The Conversation, 21 Dec. 2022, www.theconversation.com/the-great-movie-scenes-inceptions-mindbending-paris-scene-145620.  

“Looking Inward and Outward by Rik Gern.” MLTSHP, www.mltshp.com/p/1JS3D. Accessed 19 May 2023.