Interactive Media Design

Write a 500 words response to the Museum visit

The trip on Wednesday, to the Galileo History of Science Museum turned out to be an inspiring collection of technology and objects. I tend to stay away from the sciences, since I was never any good in school, but in fact the museum put into perspective that science is more than math equations, it can be about the design as well.
A recurring theme I discovered in my trip to the museum were the reoccurring circles found in most designs wether found in the sun dials, the early clock devices, the telescopes, the ocular devices and even in the canvas of one of the maps. In returning to the pictures I had taken from the museum I noticed the circular shapes that I found myself drawn to.
The first object I found myself taking multiple pictures of were the sun dials. I remember discussing the fact that sun dials had no use in being that detailed or large but I think that it helps describe the period in which these sun dials were made. The most fascinating part about the dials were that each was handcrafted during the time where there was not any technology to help with the precision of the dials. The scientist making these dials had to carefully design the circles with the correct information. Each design is different in their own way. Some tell just the time using different number systems wether that be natural numbers like 1, 2, 3, 4, or roman numerals like I,II,III,IV. The amount of details vary as well some being intense with gold design and others being plain. I like that each had their own personality and it make the science not seem so boring but beautiful.
The second room that interested me was the room with the electricity conducting machines. The use of material to build the massive machines ranging from wood, to glass, to metal, to fabric was beautiful. The circle was also a theme with these machines as well. Several pieces of metal were formed in a spiral shape. Although I am not sure how that was useful to the conductivity of the electricity, visually it made for an interesting device.
Finally the display with all of the glassware was amazing to see. I have seen videos of blown glass and the process it takes, so to see those delicate thermometers and how they have stayed in tact this entire time is quite astonishing. The vase designs were also beautiful, each with their own shape and even some use of color was used in the handles and for detailing.
Overall my experience at the museum was a surprisingly positive one. After being nervous about the science of it all I was amazed at how design often times was a huge part of making the science work in the first place. Visually and mechanically without design some of these machinery or tools would not work. Something I wish I had saw more sketches or brainstorming notes of the different object we saw. Because often times the beauty is in the thought process. Even in the early stages of some of these magnificent creations.

I really enjoyed Wednesday’s class walking tour and trip to the Galileo Museum. I have always loved science and have been curious about its origin. I was fascinated to see the museum's large collection of technology and objects in such great shape. I had never realized the similarities between art and science, and it made me more excited to look at art differently than I had before.

One part of the class that I enjoyed the most was during the walking tour when we were given tips on the best places in the center city like where to get art supplies and the best sandwich shop. These are not things that you can tell on your own walking tour and are very helpful when learning the local ways of a city and I will definitely be trying out some of the hidden spots we stopped at especially the paperback exchange. Like the reading mentioned it is important to know how places connect and the best ways to get from one place to another and walking through the city while pointing out key places is a great way to remember how to get around.

In the museum, my favorite part was the room with the different versions of a womb and how dangerous it was to have a baby before science was more developed. I have not seen 3D models of the different ways babies can be oriented in the womb in real-life-sized art before. At first, it is weird to think of this as art, but when looking deeper at the human anatomy and how detailed and intricate it is all of the ways the parts connect are very detailed and fascinating to look at. This also made me think back to the beginning of the tour when we saw what used to be the orphanage because children with birth defects or children who were not wanted by their parents were often sent to orphanages like that one and I want to work with kids in my future career.

When looking back through the pictures I took throughout the museum, the most common theme I saw had to do with the world around you. I was drawn to the globes, astrology, and telescopes. The idea of there being more out there than we know is very interesting and fascinating to me and the fact that all throughout history people have been trying to figure this out is fascinating. The large piece of art of a map was one of my favorite pieces because of the stories it shared with different people perspectives of different places. This is very beautiful and the most unique drawing of a map I have ever seen. I love the colors and images that were drawn throughout the map and the waves shown in the water. this map is similar to the walking tour and the reading because from everyone’s point of view a place may seem different and there are surprises at every corner you turn.

Overall, I really enjoyed the walking tour and the museum and want to learn more about how art and science are connected and how I can take my curiosity for science and working with people and connect it to the creative and artistic side of my brain that I use less frequently in my everyday life. I am now more excited to create a project in this class knowing there is a strong relationship between art and science.

I really enjoyed class on Wednesday. It was fun to walk around Florence and see things I haven’t seen yet while hearing from a local. I loved hearing some of the tales and legends from Florentine culture, specifically the love story in the Finestra del soldato. One of my favorite things that we saw on the walking tour was the restoration shop where the replica statues from the duomo are made. I also loved seeing the Secret Square. This is a place I probably would have never found on my own so it was interesting to see this hidden part of Florence. I found it interesting that all of the windows were different sizes and wondered if there was a deeper meaning to this or if it was just the way they were built.

After the walking tour, I was really excited to go to the Galileo History of Science Museum. I love learning about science and was eager to see how science and art are connected and how certain scientific fields developed in Florence and around the world.

I found the drawings of the maps a particularly interesting aspect of the museum. I was really able to see the level of curiosity that each scientist had as there were multiple renditions of the same thing. I was surprised to see how many variations there were of the same style globe. I felt I was able to see the thought process of each scientist through seeing the different versions of each item presented in the museum. The design elements of the maps made me wonder if there was any collaboration between scientists as they designed the different globes. This reminded me a bit of the microscope that we saw and how one scientist discovered and created the microscope and other scientists were able to do similar work without having seen the original work.

One map that stood out to me was the one that was created by stories of other travelers. I loved how the artist was able to create their own map based off of hearing stories and tailoring the design of the map to each story.

I was baffled by the knowledge scientists had even 500 years ago. I am interested to learn about the trial and error process that scientists went through in order to create these technologies like the maps and clocks and even the glass work. I liked seeing the progression of elements like how the clocks developed into what we know them as today. I find it interesting how not only the technology but also how designs have evolved. The pocket watches we saw in the museum were very intricate and detailed. Watches today typically appear more simple and only accomplish a singular job of telling time. This also relates to the design of maps and how the color of maps evolved over time.

Overall, class on Wednesday was a really enjoyable experience filled with learning about all the culture, history, art, and science that Florence has to offer.

When I was very young, my parents found out I had a series of things that caused me to have poor eye sight. As a young girl, my farsighted, astigmatized, and crossed eyes prevented my from seeing the world around me. The detail of flowers, the legs of a lady bug, the tinkle of the nights starts, all a blur to my weak eyes. After a series of operations, prescription glasses, and years of eye-patch wearing, my sight was strong enough for me to see the world in detail. Because of my sighted struggles, I have always appreciated the visuals of life.
Human kind as a whole has gone through a similar struggle for sight. Early on, we were limited to what the naked eye could pick and the what the brain could imagine. The development of the glasses, the piecing together of the first telescopes, the creation of science’s first microscope. Without these developments of science, we would be blind. The telescope, what a beautiful piece of equipment. Because of Galileo, we could begin our journey to look deep into space. The night sky is not just a black sheet with twinkling lights but an array of history, ranging back to the big bang. Before the telescope, we were blind to the area beyond earth’s atmosphere. Before the microscope, our eyes saw no detail of the small, cells, creatures, and organisms that keep life in balance. Because of our advanced sight tools, the universe can look at itself.
After the understanding of the power of sight was established, a commitment to the beatification of the world ensued. In Florence alone, the cobble stones on the ground tickle the eyes with their patterns. The colors of the houses create a language and beauty to the city. The beauty of the architecture is only aided by the stability of the walls, roads, and bridges. Science and art held hands with each other during the renaissance. A painting could establish itself as both imaginative and mathematical. Like a picture, a sculture or a painting could begin to depict the accuracy of the human body, the planets, and the earth. Aside from art, the creation of the telescope allowed for unimaginable experiences. Without the telescope, interest in the sky would have been limited. Landing on the moon and orbiting the earth, both events practically fiction to the minds of Renaissance artists and scientists but true, historical events today. Step by step, scientific developments have pushed us to see and dream further.
Through the refinement of a small piece of glass, our world grew, no longer was earth one small planet, but it was a member of a galaxy circling the sun. Of the five senses, sight has allowed us to grasp the vast and beautiful universe that we live in.

The Galileo Museum was extremely rewarding and educational. From learning about the development of different sciences and technologies, seeing how they intersected with art, and being inspired by history and technique, our class trip to the Galileo Museum was eye-opening.

Within the museum, I was very interested in the ornamentation of the objects. it was astonishing to see the metalsmithing, woodworking, and glass blowing capabilities of the time. It is quite difficult for me to fathom how such beautiful and detailed objects could both be made, and replicated at various times, during this time period–this is something that we continue to struggle with during modern times. Their beauty is admirable but also interesting as most scientific objects nowadays follow the idea of function over form, whereas in the case of many of the museum artifacts it seemed as though function and form were equally important. The separation between STEM subjects and art nowadays is very distinct, it is thought that by many people that humans are “left” or “right” brained–meaning that either the more analytical, logistical side of your brain is prominent, or the creative, visual, and emotional side is. It’s intriguing to see items from a time when this was not the case and the fields weren’t parallel to each other but rather worked together harmoniously.

Within the museum, there were many examples of this idea, one that I found particularly interesting was the Armillary sphere by Antonio Santucci or Sfera armiliare. This massive sphere is a Ptolemaic model of the universe, a theory about planetary motion. This theory has earth at the center of the universe and in the revolving in orbits around the earth are the sun, the moon, and other planets. Since the creation of this model, in 1588-1593, scientists have discovered that the Ptolemaic model is not accurate, and the whole galaxy doesn’t revolve around the earth. Despite its scientific inaccuracy, this piece of evidence is a testament to the art of ornamentation, scientific and philosophical knowledge of the time, and of course, the power of Medici patronage. I think I could’ve stared at this piece for hours without being able to appreciate every intricate detail of the model. Its multi-layer structure helps display the various orbit cycles, making the idea extremely tangible. As someone interested in astronomy this was an exciting this to see.

While there were many beautiful things in the museum, there were also some I wasn’t too keen on. While they were pieces of scientific history, they seemed out of place compared to the rest of the items on display. Something I was extremely shocked by within the museum was the fact that there were remnants of Galileo’s body on display. I understand that he was considered a genius, even a revolutionary or visionary–but to me, this is simply disgusting. While the museum is about science, I prefer not to see the decaying body of the scientist. I can see how some may think it honors him, I believe that it’s a disruption of his body’s natural process post-death, unethical, and honestly just kind of gross.

While I didn't love everything within the galleries, the museum was overall a very educational experience and I am glad we had the opportunity to visit it.

Growing up, I was always captivated when learning about the history of Galileo due to his sheer creativity and imagination that gifted him with the talents to make so many discoveries. When first hearing about our trip to the museum, I was immediately excited. As a student who has studied science in the past and been fascinated in the world of astronomy, I was curious as to what the Galileo Science Museum would entail.

From first entering the museum and seeing a set of glasses in the first room, I found myself acknowledging how similar these prototypes are to what we use today. Yes, the physical glasses lens is likely made from a different material, and the product itself can now provide greater accuracy, I still find it amazing that the shape and concept is the same. Even though times change, and advancements are made, the foundation of the invention remains intact. I made a similar realization when looking at the telescopes crafted by Galileo. The creation is fairly similar to telescopes that are used today. They are now able to range in size, color, and material, but the foundation of the product is still, from the outside perspective, nearly identical.

Something that I was able to take away through my time in the museum is how innovations and artwork can go hand in hand. Creating a masterpiece of art takes time and precision. There is a purpose or a story that an artist identifies in their mind that they want to convey. The work of Galileo took lots of imagination and dedication to engineer the product to work in the way that he envisioned it to. The items are in a sense sculpture that can provide purposeful use. However, we now study and admire them which in turn incorporates their identity as a work of art.

While in the museum, a specific room that really stuck out to me was where the sculptures of the fetuses were displayed. As having studied child conception and birth in the past, I have only learned about modern day medicine and statistics. Seeing the way in which childbirth used to be studied was fascinating. As I have mentioned earlier, there are many innovations established years ago that remain consistent in society today. Although the way we understand child conception, defects, and birth are much more advanced, the way we convey the knowledge is similar. We still commonly use 3D representations and diagrams as ways to understand the womb. However, I was in awe of the accuracy that was able to be displayed in the dozens of models.

Looking back on my experience, I greatly enjoyed the time we spent in the Galileo Science Museum. I found myself seeing science as a form of expressive art and varying ways in which art can be expressed. Compared to the many other museums that I have visited while in Florence, I felt as though this one provided an entirely new perspective on what Florence holds and what I can learn from being a student exploring the city.

Sorry for replying so late! The first week of classes overwhelmed me a bit.

The Museo Galileo surprised me by breaking a lot of my expectations: my ideas of "traditional" math and science are mainly the subjects that I've been taught in school, and it was fun to see tools from areas that I find more interesting.

My favorite part of the museum was probably getting to look at all of the maps, globes, and mapmaking tools. I love when both fiction and non-fiction books include maps of the areas that are mentioned. Looking at the oldest maps, and noticing how differently the oceans and continents were drawn from modern maps, made them look almost like maps inside a fantasy book. The giant sphere (was it an astrolabe?) decorated with the Medici family crest was definitely the most impressive tool for me. I still have no idea how astrolabes and other wayfinding tools work, but it fascinates me that people wanted every tool to be as beautiful as it was functional. It was also interesting, after learning about the Medici family during my Renaissance History class, to see their names and family crest everywhere I looked. The museum trip really helped me understand how large the Medici influence was in Florence.

Galileo's fingers were the most surprising part of the visit, and also the most surprising things I have seen while I have been in Florence. As strange as those people were, whoever tried to preserve those fingers, it was nice to know that Galileo wasn't alone in his beliefs, and that he had at least a few supporters in his time. The magnetic ducks, stored with planetary models and other magnets, were also surprising to find. As with the other museum objects that were labeled with their names but not their functions, I still have no idea what purpose those magnetic ducks could have served when they were first made.

While the maps were my favorite part of the visit, I spent the longest time looking at the flasks, test tubes, and other medical glassware. Other than some of the stranger glassware, most of the shapes and functions of each flask and tube were very similar to the ones that are used today. But looking at the "portable pharmacy" sets also reminded me that the way doctors worked in the past is very different from their jobs today. It's easy to forget that at-home doctors were pretty common, especially since most modern-day doctors usually expect the patient to come to them at their hospitals. But those pharmacy sets also reminded me of how advanced modern medicine is compared to medicine during and after the Renaissance. But from maps to test tubes, what I remember most about the museum visit is how beautiful each object was, even those that weren't meant to be.

February 10, 2022
Since I’ve been living in Florence my love and respect for the city keeps growing. When we were on the tour I was able to see the uniqueness of all of the buildings and history. An important part of the city is the conservation of history, the good and the bad.
Art is another vital part of Florence, intertwined in so many parts of the city. It was crazy to learn about the buildings that we pass every day and maybe not even think about the past that these buildings might have had. The orphanage for example is so large and beautiful and I would never have guessed that it was an old orphanage. The details of each building are very important that I wouldn’t have even recognized had I not been on the walk and learned about the history and why there was baby Jesus’ at the top of the orphanage. Another important building we crossed was the building which was partially destroyed because of the mafia. The history of this tragedy is shown on the building by the two different textures from the reconstruction. I think it is very powerful that they kept the part now destroyed and the new part to show that there was a tragedy but there is growth and big historical restoration happening.
The secret square was interesting to learn about and see because you were able to put yourself in a very historical moment where the community of Florence had a lot of animosity and violence among communities. The architecture was changed so that families wouldn’t kill each other which is very important to see the physical evidence of how violent certain families were in Florence at the time. It is incredible that Florence has had all of these different events and has built on top of these and made changes while also keeping and restoring history. Ponte Vecchio is a good example of change that has happened in Florence and the sort of events that has led Florence to what it is today.
Museo Galileo was another example of this restoration. The lengths that I’ve seen Italians go to save history are quite mind bottling. The finger of Galileo was an extreme view to see at the museum. This museum was very impressive to me because of the impact these scientific materials made on our lives. The telescopes to me were very interesting to see because you could see some progression with all of the different telescopes. Museo Galileo did an amazing job at showing progression and how the scientific mind works.
An important takeaway I got from the Florence tour was the importance of restoring the history of the city while also allowing for change to happen. Florence is keeping the city alive by having these important historical sites be assessable to the public in many ways and showing the progression of these different historical events.