Getty Center

My trip to the Getty Center on July 27th was like going to Disneyland. 

I got robbed for parking.

I overpaid for mediocre food.

There were lines everywhere, and bodies obstructing everything.

You get in the way of a lot of pictures.

But there were definitely sights to behold.

Continuing the Disneyland parallel, this entertainment attraction promises that even after you get a free ride, you need to walk the rest of the way to have fun.

I really wonder if someone has/would compile a digital view of LA from this very same spot without the limitation of smog by getting closer and closer towards Downtown and replacing the obstructed areas.

Forget your paper map, bring this 3D model for easy navigation.
Just kidding, it's a bolted display that probably weighs quite a bit.
You can use an iTouch though.
Not as fun.

This area for recreation of individual interpretation of art pieces was definitely an appreciated component of the museum - I just wish they had a station in every room. Everyone just drew the tigers or fruit basket from these pictures.

The Getty's exhibits were a little bit tougher for me to relate to our studies. Here are a couple of pieces I'll try to connect them to.

Scientists aren't the only stereotyped peoples.
This painting is of a scholar studying Euclid's diagrams but is clearly disheveled and unkempt.
Which is a good thing because he, like most students today, represents hard work and dedication.

This painting happens to transcend the scholar stereotype and comment on all of humanity by comparing the study of the space between the stars i.e. seemingly infinite to a burning candle and an hourglass - an act rested on futility.

An alchemist here embodies all of these concepts: a stereotypically cluttered work-manner, respectability of profession, and futility in a practice that yields little results.

Modern depictions of alchemic practices are stories of worlds-that-could-have-been if it was achieved instead of technology.
Like magic and the world of Harry Potter, but science-based.
http://www.fondos10.net/fondos-de-pantalla-de-anime/full-metal-alchemist-5-wallpapers-7870

This painting shows an attempted subversion of the natural environment by the man-made structure of a bridge, asking which has the right to dominance in the picture and whether a battle ensued.

The cornucopia holds symbols of knowledge and learning that the painter wanted to show was being obstructed from the world by closed-minded, raging-bull leaders, not only ignorant of the benefits society would stand to gain from education but also fearful of the consequences.

The Book of Eli is a post-apocalyptic version of that same notion where the last Bible is protected by one man on the mission of bringing it to a place for replication and safekeeping while another seeks to destroy it to keep man from remembering the lessons behind its words.
http://www.thebookofelimovie.net/

This view between multiple halls and posts would be very confusing if one didn't understand perspective..
Much like other paintings that uses it and vanishing points accurately, you can recreate the scene in your mind and walk through it because of the logical, realistic creation. 

The caption for this read that the doctor was using a sample of the woman's urine to determine that she was pregnant.
Medical technology has had any benefits, including reducing these distressing moments to parties of one.

This mainly audio presentation made the visuals an accompaniment to the music that visitors could sit and consider.
It made me think of the virtual reality therapy for chronic pain in taking aesthetically appreciable things for the express purpose of healing.


Intent listening may also help you channel the Green Goblin's ability to channel his Sherlocke Holmes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO5lXSIrxSk

This observation of the night sky follows the fascination with the consistent inconsistence of colors due to the vastness of celestial bodies and our natural and unnatural earth. 

You will find this fascination EVERYWHERE.
You may have even seen a DESMA friend of mine's personal rendition on her laptop.
Literally PAINTED on her laptop.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21578012@N03/2383301345/in/photostream/

The Garden seemed to be a popular study/picnic spot for frequent visitors.
I can understand how a little hill in the middle of LA can be a nice, free getaway.
The Getty is definitely a place to try and make sense of the world, be it just yourself or larger things, should you feel that the ceiling of a lecture hall isn't enough.

Me with a local celebrity, apparently.
Also, she requested additional recognition via this UCLA blog.

 

NACHO TIME

http://xkcd.com/140/

The Getty has a multi-cultural cafe that prides itself on classy dishes, so there were no "nachos". The closest thing we could get was a Taco Salad with chips, rice, carne asada, some cheese, guacamole, sour cream, cabbage, and salsa.

It was delicious. And it wins.

My wallet loses.