Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

Neuroscience

This week’s topics focused on quite of variety of things, ranging from consciousness to unconsciousness, the conflict between Freud and Jung, and issue of LSD. The field of neuroscience explores the understanding of the nervous system and how brain functions. What does it mean to be in this moment right now? How or body and mind think and process such actions. All of this derives from consciousness; the special awareness, sensitivity, and alertness to a particular issue or situation. 

Franz Joseph Gall

Two important scientists that looked at the brain were Franz Joseph Gall and Santiago Raon y Cajal. Gall believes that human brain was physically developed according to its use and began the fashionable practice of phrenology- identifying the great matter of the brain with active tissue, neurons, and white matter. Cajal, considered the founder of neuroanatomy, investigated more of the microscopic structure of the brain.

Santiago Raon y Cajal

Freud and Jung looked more at the unconscious where they both took different approaches or had differ rent theories of the topic. Freud divided the mind as of “id” (or instincts and drive) and the “superego” (or conscience). In his theory, the unconscious refers to the mental process of which individuals make themselves unaware. He proposed a vertical and hierarchical architecture of human consciousness: the conscious mind, the preconscious, and the unconscious mind- each lying beneath the other. 

Jung argued that unconscious was source of creativity. He believed that religion was an important place of safety and exploring all parts of the cells. The relationship between these two is further dramatized in the movie called “A Dangerous Method,” produced in 2011 by David Connenberg, exemplifying the creative and fears of the process of the brain. 

David Cronenberg

It is interesting to see the wide range in neuroscience and how it all ties together. The brain is this biological entity that inspires art and influences culture that has continued scientists and artists to find solutions as to whether to not mind control is inevitable. 

Citations

"Neuroscience" http://cdn1.collective-evolution.com/assets/uploads/2013/08/consciousness.jpg

"Franz Joseph Gall" https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2706/4307548673_41014028e9.jpg

"Santiago Raon y Cajal" http://spin.udg.edu/rn12/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/neuronas.jpg

"David Cronenberg" http://static.rogerebert.com/uploads/movie/movie_poster/a-dangerous-method-2011/large_NfUMJNIvPMcm59uZEeHx8l4feM.jpg