"Connected"

The film related to my content area in several ways. Shlain describes art as a language, and I believe that throughout human existence it has been used to communicate and share ideas. I would be interested in reading his book regarding art and science, and how they are associated with traditionally held views of feminine and masculine traits. It has been my experience that "right-brain/left-brain" are often misunderstood and too black and white. The two sides, as mentioned in the film, work together, so I think the idea that artists are mostly one way and scientists or mathematicians are another is a bit over-simplified. As far as these theories relate to my content area, I would say that contemporary art consists of countless approaches and responses to all of the topics highlighted in "Connected": technology, globalization, environmental concerns, etc. Instead of merely expressing emotions and ideas, artists often choose to tackle these topics with thoughtful research and inquiry-based methodology.

The main question that came to mind as I was watching "Connected" was regarding what was referred to as a "participatory revolution." It seems as though the access to technology, specifically the kinds of technology that promote interaction, is becoming more and more accessible in far reaching areas of the world. I would hope that as these devices become more affordable that it will give people a voice that in the past would have gone unheard. This could allow more people to have a say in local or even international decisions that affect their daily lives. Perhaps it will become possible for more populations to participate in democratic systems.

Often art is used to "connect" to other subject areas on a rather superficial level, such as drawing a picture about a topic. There are deeper ways that art is interconnected with other disciplines. Artists often approach their work through different lenses, by posing a question or exploring concepts. For example, an exhibit at the Exploratorium that I visited recently consisted of personal items recovered from a closed mental institution. It explored the subject of mental illness through aesthetic means, and created links between psychology, history, poetry, and photography. Art such as this allows questions to remain unanswered, and therefore encourages further inquiry across content areas.

It is easier to imagine a "well-educated" person as one who has an understanding of how things are interrelated. Gaining knowledge about specific subjects has its place, but having the ability to make connections takes on a higher level of learning. It requires a well-rounded education to develop ways to recognize similarities and patterns within and across domains that may at first seem to have nothing in common. When trying to reach conclusions, a person who is capable of this higher level thinking will draw on upon a variety of knowledge-bases and is less likely to simply repeat already stated "facts."

Responded to...
Mary Buckley
Jenn Bible