Week 2


 Math + Art

    In this week's lecture video, Professor Vesna spoke of the importance of math in different art mediums, explicitly pointing to larger concepts like perspective, depth, and proportion. I was especially interested in the connection between math and art through architecture. The golden ratio is "the ultimate connection of math and art", which is first appearing with the pyramids in Egypt (Vesna). This ratio is depicted in the images below, most famously portrayed in a form called the golden rectangle. In essence, it is known for being an aesthetically pleasing proportion in architecture (Studio).

   


        The video above explains simply how important it is that mathematics is correct in regard to architecture in order to ensure that buildings are safe and secure. The video also explained that math can also be used to calculate heat loss and wasted energy, which reminded me of a physics project I did during my junior year of high school. Math has never been a strong suit of mine but I have always had an interest in architecture, therefore the drawing and creative aspect of the project was exciting to me. On the other hand, the assignment was extremely daunting as it took many hours to calculate heat loss, and wasted energy, and choose the scale and dimensions for the ceilings and each room. 



    Another interest of mine is music. There is a saying that if you are good at math you will also be good at reading music because the two are similar. This proved to be a plausible statement as I struggled with math and learning to read music. An article I read this week discussed the functional relationship between math and music and explained that "music is divided into sections that are called measures, where each measure has equal amounts of beats. This is comparable to mathematical divisions of time"(Krishnan). It is also important to know fractions and how to count music in. 



Works Cited 

12 examples of floor plans with dimensions. RoomSketcher. (2023, February 28). Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.roomsketcher.com/blog/floor-plan-dimensions/

Calculating Home Heating Energy. Home Heating Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2023, from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/heatloss.html

Krishnan, R. (2022, September 6). The functional relationship between math and music. Disc Makers Blog. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://blog.discmakers.com/2020/07/the-functional-relationship-between-math-and-music/#:~:text=Math%20helps%20in%20reading%20music&text=Music%20is%20divided%20into%20sections,there%20are%20in%20each%20measure.

Studio, O. (2020, August 11). Architecture, between art and science. Medium. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://outlines-studio.medium.com/architecture-between-art-and-science-22d69499a7f4

YouTube. (2012, April 9). Mathematics-PT1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov. YouTube. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg&t=1244s

YouTube. (2016, August 18). Maths and architecture. YouTube. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pBXcYhm_3k










Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 15, 2023 at 12:09 AM

    Hi Sofia! I enjoyed how you connected art and math through the field of architecture. It is a great example as it is a monumental form of artistic expression. Even today, we are still in amazement at architecture from past historical periods such as the European Renaissance. I also liked how you talked about your own experiences with math and how that personally showed the connection between math and art for you. I didn't really think about music and math having the same skill set until this course as well.

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  2. Konmal AliApril 16, 2023 at 1:46 AM

    Hi Sofia, your post was definitely a wonderful read! I enjoyed your synthesis of the involvement of both art and math in architecture as well as your personal story of connecting more with the artistic aspect of architecture. Currently, I am learning about heat loss and wasted energy in my physics course and did not realize architects also had to conduct these calculations. Additionally, I love the intersectionality of music and math that you dive into. As a self-taught pianist, it was very difficult for me to read musical notes and hear the differences between the beats when I first started even though I was fairly good at math. If I could go back, I wish I explored the mathematical foundations in the creation of beats that build harmonies to better hear variations as well as expect when a beat changes. Overall, this was a great post and your provided valuable insight!

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  3. AnonymousApril 16, 2023 at 4:14 PM

    Sofia, your post was a great read! The addition of your personal experiences and expansion of the material beyond the scope of what was discussed in lecture or readings was engaging. I hadn't before considered the relationship between music and art in the way you discussed. While it is evident that in its basis in rhythm and 'measurements,' music is mathematical, I believe that similar to art, math is an enabler more than a functional element of the creative process. Music that is "perfect" often feels strange, inhuman, and missing spirit. I believe the intuitive and learned mathematic relationship of sound is a core enabler of quality music, however, also a crutch that top musicians need to overcome. I wonder how this applies to art?

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