James Benning + Math

I have to say that I almost enjoyed our lecture this week. It was strange, I actually have generalized panic disorder, which admittedly, is pretty horrible, but something that often triggers panic attacks for me is math.

I know it sounds weird, but it's true. The last time I tried to take a math class I had a panic attack, and henceforth was actually medicated before attending other math courses. So...I wasn't looking forward to this.

But, I thought it was interesting the way Mr. Benning made the connection between math and art. One of my good friends just became a math teacher, and he was always trying to convince me about how great math was. I never believed him! But, in a way, it's true. Artists are inspired by all sorts of things, and in Mr. Benning's case...it's math. I think that's rare.

I really liked the part where he said that one of his students knitted a love poem into a scarf by converting each letter to a binary expression. I thought that was a really beautiful. I also like the idea that at one point nothing is everything, and everything is nothing. (something about infinity...I don't really understand it) but, from a philosophical stand-point, it sure does make me think.