Unit 2 - Mathematics and Science

Brahmagupta was an Indian
mathematician who greatly
expanded the idea of "zero"

This week we learned about the interrelationships between mathematics and art. I had never thought about how critical math is to true art, and how it is in fact necessary for all design. One of the most interesting things in the lecture was the concept of zero, and how it came to be. I had never thought about how one would, without knowledge of zero, conceive of a number to signify nothing. Brahmagupta created many rules to understand basic mathematics, which revolutionized that time. Then, Descartes developed those ideas and propelled the concept of zero into the future. We also learned about the Golden Rule, which is an aesthetically appealing ratio, and began to be used for art in ancient Egypt.

This video about the Mandelbrot Fractal was fascinating. It is incredible that such a simple equation (to the left), can produce such an incredibly complex and intricate design. I was initially intrigued because of what I've heard of fractals, but when the video began to zoom in and allow me to see how nature, which is widely considered to be the pinnacle of beauty, was present in this fractal, I was astounded. The trees, rivers, and lakebed I was able to see in the fractal were shocking, and studying this fractal expanded my understanding of how mathematics is built into the very DNA of what we consider to be alluring. 

One eye-opening thing I learned was about perspective in art, and how parallel lines need to converge on the same plane in a painting. It was a Muslim scholar, al-Haytham, in around 1000 B.C.E. that first posited that vision occurred in the brain, and not in the eyes, and he revolutionized the field of optics and how geometry is used in art. It is so interesting to see how something I take for granted in art had to be actually studied and discovered to be implemented successfully. It also changed my view of the value of geometry, because it can create such beautiful things.

Di Vinci described perspective by saying, "Images of
all things are transmitted to the eye by pyramidal lines."

This week I learned a ton about how mathematics, art, and science interrelate and are essential to each other's success. The readings and videos altered my understanding that artists just wanted to be free and create whatever came to them. I learned that the fourth dimension of geometry actually "was primarily a symbol of liberation for artists," (Henderson, 205) which I had never thought about. I now see that the juxtaposition of these three disciplines actually fuels each to new depths of creativity and imagination.

Citations

Abbott, Edwin Abbott. Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. New York: n.p., 1963. Print.

Das Ji, Ram. Brahmagupta. N.d. N.p.

Di Vinci, Leonardo. The Last Supper. 1948. Santa Maria Delle Grazie, Milan.

"Golden Ratio." Golden Ratio. Math Is Fun, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.

Henderson, Linda D. "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion." Leonardo 17.3 (1984): 205-10. JSTOR. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.

Scripter, Carl. "Fractals - Mandelbrot." YouTube. DJ DlimitR, 17 June 2006. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov." YouTube. UC Online, 9 Apr. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.

Weisstein, Eric W. "Mandelbrot Set." Mandelbrot Set. Wolfram Alpha, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.