Syllabus: Protein Portraits BB407H – The Aesthetic Alchemy of Life
Course Overview Spring 2024
This term, we will explore how AI can bridge the realms of art and protein science. Through a series of activities, students will delve into the fascinating world of proteins and create their own artistic interpretations.
Three Main Activities
- Science Meets Art: Unveiling Proteins
- We’ll examine proteins from a scientific perspective, exploring their chemistry and structure. Graphical illustrations commonly used by scientists to depict protein molecules will guide our exploration.
- Key resources: The Protein Data Bank and the Molecule of the Month.
- Artistic Instincts: Portraying Proteins
- Drawing on our artistic instincts, we’ll discuss various art forms as potential means to represent protein molecules.
- We’ll critique existing protein-inspired artwork and generate fresh ideas, elevating our scientific-artistic inspiration.
- Your Personal Creation: Artistic Protein Portraits
- Each student will select a specific protein molecule as their subject for artistic portrayal.
- Artworks will convey personal perspectives on proteins, emphasizing structural, functional, evolutionary, historical, or societal features.
- Artificial Intelligence: We’ll explore how AI can enhance the creative process, allowing students to experiment with AI-generated elements in their protein portraits.
Student Expectations
- Active Classroom Participation
- Engage in stimulating discussions that enrich the entire class experience.
- Progress Reports and Design Reviews
- Regularly describe your progress on art projects.
- Foster a collaborative atmosphere by sharing updates at all stages.
- Design Deadlines
- Week 4-5: Choose a protein and discuss your ideas.
- Week 7-8: Offer a preliminary design review.
- Week 10: Finalize your artwork for our exhibition.
- Artwork Captions
- Create concise, neatly printed titles and descriptions for your protein portraits.
- We’ll adopt a consistent stylistic theme for all displayed works to ensure a professional presentation.
- Attendance
- Aim for 100% classroom attendance (excused absences allowed).
- Remember that your presence impacts the entire class.
