Event 4: Museum Of Natural History
Going to the Museum Of Natural History in Los Angeles felt like entering a paradigm of the intersection between creativity and science. Much of what I saw was related to topics we discussed in DESMA 9, such as the idea that the fields of art and science don't have to be oppositional and can create unique narratives when they coalesce. The Dinosaur Hall was among the most impressive sights I saw. Seeing the giant fossils and life-sized T. rex skeleton made me think of what Walter Benjamin said about how art loses its “aura” when it’s reproduced too much. But honestly, standing under that dinosaur still felt amazing. Even though I’ve seen pictures of dinosaurs my whole life, seeing one up close in real size hit differently. The Becoming Los Angeles exhibit showed how LA changed over time. It wasn’t just facts, it was full of videos, sounds, and objects that made the city’s story feel real. It reminded me of how Patricia Olynyk talks about “complex systems,” where different thi...