Physical Aesthetics
an educational symbiosis
through metaphor
Steven Zides
Wofford College
zidessb@wofford.edu
Three Levels of Introductory Physics
Physics for Physicists
- Two semesters, calculus based, rigorous problem
solving
Physics for the Life Sciences
- Two semesters, algebra based, problem solving,
conceptual understanding with biological focus
Physics for BA Students (“Physics for Poets”)
- One semester, algebra based, conceptual
understanding with humanistic focus
Motion Discussion in the Three Levels
Physics for Physicists
“A 2kg box slides down a 30 degree hill with a friction coefficient of 0.4 . Starting
with Newton’s Second Law of Motion derive an equation that relates the velocity
of the box as a function of its displacement down the hill. Use that equation to
find the velocity of the box after it has gone 2 m down the hill.”
Physics for the Life Sciences
“A 2kg box slides down a 30 degree frictionless hill. Using the Kinematic
Equations of Motion, find out how fast the box is moving when it has gone down
the hill 2m.”
Physics for Poets
“A box slides down a frictionless hill. If the velocity of the box can be written as
𝑣 = 2 𝑎 ∆𝑥 where 𝑎 is the acceleration of the box and ∆𝑥 is how far the box has
moved. Then find the velocity of the box if the acceleration is 4.9𝑚/𝑠 2 and it has
traveled down the hill 2m.”
Potential Art-Physics Interrelationships
•
Physicality in the creation and implementation of art
-- “the engineering of art”
•
Modes of Thinking that are shared between the two
disciplines – “synergistic problem solving”
•
Historical Parallels paradigm shifts in both disciplines
that occur at similar times – “Zeitgeists”
•
Artistic Manifestos that are partially driven by
technological advances or scientific discoveries
•
Metaphorical Extension of physical concepts
Motional Metaphors
Position
Acceleration
Walkers by the Sea
Nighthawks
by Milton
by Hopper
The Velocity Metaphor
Simulating Motion in Static Images
- Use of diagonals and cropping in
impressionistic paintings
- Comic book effects in the work
of Lichtenstein
- The Futurism movement
Work of Muybridge and Eakins
The Koyaanisqatsi Film
Greek Thoughts on Motion
- Aristotle’s Four Element Theory
- Zeno’s Paradox
Unique Forms of
Continuity in Space
by Boccioni
The American Dream and Upward Mobility
Art Essay Assignments: Motion
Pick an artwork, from The Art Book, which exemplifies a mechanical
metaphor (i.e. position, velocity, acceleration, etc.). Create a 500 – 1000
word essay discussing how the artist uses this metaphor. If you like, you
may compare and contrast how a metaphor is used in two separate
artworks.
One student selected to
write about the velocity
metaphor in
Coming from the
Mill by L. S. Lowry
Integrated Exam Questions: Modern Physics
"Duchamp’s Nude Descending a
Staircase (No.2) sparked a storm of
controversy at the International Exhibition of
Modern Art held at in New York in 1913.
… The painting reduces the descending nude
to a series of some twenty different static
positions whose fractured volumes
and linear panels fill almost the entire canvas.”
(Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture in the Philadelphia
Museum of Art (2000), pg. 27)
Explain how this painting demonstrates one of
the following metaphors: Relativistic SpaceTime, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle or
the Particle/Wave duality of matter.
New Course Implementations for Spring 2014
Addition of an
Art History text
Addition of a desk
sculpture lab
Addition of a class visit to the
Mint Museum of
Contemporary Art
The Future of Physical Aesthetics
•
Add physicality to the class by collaborating with the
Studio Art program. Perhaps labs on perspective,
color mixing and kinetic sculpture could be developed.
•
Develop proper assessment strategies to gauge “value
added” aspects of the course.
•
Find additional course materials and collaborators by
searching educational databases for other art-physics
initiatives.
•
Work with granting agencies to support opportunities
for community engagement.
Physical Aesthetics
an educational symbiosis
through metaphor
Steven Zides
Wofford College
zidessb@wofford.edu