Project-MOONSHOT ACADEMY

Thunders and Whispers

Disciplines/Subjects: Sound Art, Installation Art Key Themes: Listening modes, soundscape, field recording, sound editing The earliest VR virtual reality display was created in 1968. As early as 1932, Russian composer Alexander Scriabin created the earliest existing stereo recording. Binaural stereo headphones, which have been in mass production since the 1960s, have been able to accurately transmit ambient sound, but why did the concept of “virtual reality” not become widely accepted by the general public until the popularization of VR headsets 60 years later? What is the unique experience of sound in the visually dominated perception of reality? In his exploration of sound art, pioneering French composer Michel Chion proposes three modes of listening that differentiate between the source, the semantics, and the qualities of the sound itself. Learners in Exploring Moon Contemporary Media Art use this as a starting point to break the habit of perceiving and describing the sounds around them in a more multidimensional way. After visiting the Sound Art Museum with rich listening objectives in mind, we tried to create a more complete sound experience for our peers by combining different playback media and environments with recordings, objects, and favorite songs around us. Sound Art is another perspective on music. We used our cell phones to record samples from our lives, learning modern digital editing techniques to paint a soundscape as if we were making music, refreshing our imaginations of uniqueness and resonance, and capturing those fleeting fluctuations as we shared them over and over again.

The -ism Project

Disciplines/Subjects: Visual Arts, English Key Themes: European and American art history, analysis, personal perspective The popularization of mainstream art history has long been dominated by the European and American viewpoint of “originating from Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, passing through the Renaissance and Baroque, to Romanticism, Impressionism, and up to modern contemporary art”, which tells a relatively single logic of development and values. As a form of communication common to all human beings beyond language, the history of art has always been incredibly diverse. In the artistic path of Moon Exploration, to communicate smoothly in the context of contemporary art from Europe and the United States, we will respect and systematically explore the masterpieces and the causes and consequences of the traditional narratives. At the same time, we cannot help but ask: In the face of such an authoritative framework, where do we place the movies, stars, topics, and culture that have inspired our appreciation and creativity since our childhood, and where do we place ourselves? So we drew our art history maps, turning straight timelines into spider webs, trails, mountains, and clouds, to see a more unique connection between ancient and modern art and Chinese art from our perspectives. After studying the techniques of specific art genres and combing through their development, we gradually became curious beyond the generalization of the big time, “What does contemporary realism look like?” “Does rebellion have to be Dada?” “Where are the female artists in Abstract Expressionism?” “What is unique about Chinese art history?” Information found with genuine curiosity is more memorable, and characteristics are more interesting after comparison. After an essay, or an exam, the distance between creation and research seems to be closing.

Self-Portrait

Disciplines/Subjects: Visual Arts Key Themes: Self-portrait, Collage, Found object, Art therapy Self-portraits are a recurring theme in artists’ creations. Whether it’s a realistic self-portrait meticulously drawn by observing oneself in a mirror, or an abstract self-portrait created using any materials or objects to convey personal traits, this is an essential step in art learning and creation. In the Self-Portrait unit of the Art Track, learners will start by identifying ten personal keywords and then complete three works centered on self-expression. These three projects include: Life Album (with cover) – exploring direct self-expression. Readymade Sculpture – using real objects and materials to convey unique characteristics. The Opposite of Me – identifying and attempting to approach or even embrace one’s opposite side. Following these three creations, learners will utilize their ELP time to produce a fully developed and polished self-portrait. This time, their audience will include the entire community.

Four pages comic

Disciplines/Subjects: Visual Arts Key Themes: Comics, Graphic Novel, Chris Ware Famous comic works like The Avengers, Dragon Ball, and Old Master Q are often regarded as children's reading material and thus dismissed by many adult readers. However, when we revisit the history of storytelling through images, we find many extraordinary artistic works that are innovative in style and profound in content. For instance, the graphic novel Maus, which deals with the theme of Nazi concentration camps during World War II, became the first such work to win a Pulitzer Prize, demonstrating to readers worldwide that image-based storytelling can rival even the most serious literary creations. When we grow accustomed to recording life through abstract written language, we often face the limitations of vocabulary and expression, making it challenging to fully articulate our thoughts. By turning to image-based storytelling, we might discover that our thoughts and emotions inadvertently emerge between panels. In this process, whether we quickly convey a story through concise frames or repeatedly use a series of similar images to create the atmosphere, our creative expression takes on a magical transformation. The graphic novels of artist Chris Ware show us how the mundane can be reinterpreted through images, becoming thought-provoking and impactful. In this comics unit, students who have learned about creating multi-panel narratives will take inspiration from Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth to identify moments in their own daily lives worth recording and reimagine them through their creations. This project aims to challenge the stereotypical perceptions of comics as a creative medium.

Poetry Illustration

Disciplines/Subjects: Visual Arts, English Key Themes: Poem, Illustration, Surrealism Since the invention of photography in the 19th century, the main function of painting at that time has almost been replaced. For a while, many people claimed that "painting is dead". However, the ensuing Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Pop Art, and Minimalism paintings have given this form of expression unprecedented vitality. Among them, surrealist paintings are known to many people for depicting dreams, mental states, and other highly emotional ways. Poetry, as the genre closest to surrealism among all forms of written expression, can often bring readers a certain kind of unspeakable reading experience by splitting and reorganizing different images. This unusual experience always makes readers complain that "I can't understand it". Even the title of "poet" is in some cases a kind of derision rather than a description. American poet Richard Brautigan's poems often contain a lot of prose descriptions. Imaginative imagery is scattered throughout every line of his works. After the Illustration unit, learners in the Narrative Image class each chose a piece from Brautigan's Selected Poems as the inspiration for the unit and completed a surprising illustration. To let the learners' works be seen by more people, we have chosen to bring such an exhibition to you in the Little Theater. We hope you will enjoy it.

Principal Components Analysis: Theory and Application

Disciplines/Subjects: Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Statistics, Machine Learning Key Themes: Matrix Decomposition, Dimensionality Reduction, Statistical Modeling, Real-World Applications This project explores the application of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) as a statistical tool for dimensionality reduction in real-world datasets. Starting with the foundational theory, learners learn the relationship between Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and PCA, and how PCA can address common statistical dilemmas such as high dimensionality in data. Using Python, learners apply PCA to the "Prostate Cancer" dataset, exploring how the method extracts the most important components for predicting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels from various clinical measurements. Through this process, learners identify and analyze the principal components, evaluate the results, and compare the PCA-derived model with traditional linear regression models. The project emphasizes both the mathematical theory behind PCA and its practical application in data science. In addition, learners write their own PCA code from scratch using SVD, reflecting on the underlying algorithm and comparing their implementation to established Python instructions.

Exploring Pre-Calculus Concepts Through Real-World Applications

Disciplines/Subjects: Mathematics, Pre-Calculus, Applied Mathematics Key Themes: Mathematical Modeling, Real-World Applications, Exploration of Pre-Calculus Topics This project allows learners to choose a topic from the Pre-Calculus curriculum and explore its application in a real-world context. Topics may include polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, or trigonometric and polar functions. Learners will conduct research, develop mathematical models, solve example problems, and discuss real-world applications. For instance, the sample work explores how trigonometric functions model sound waves, demonstrating the mechanics of music and sound. The project encourages creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of how mathematical concepts relate to practical scenarios.

Applying Calculus to Real-World Problem Solving

Disciplines/Subjects: Mathematics, Calculus, Applied Mathematics Key Themes: Mathematical Modeling, Optimization, Differentiation, Integration In this project, learners will apply their knowledge of calculus to analyze and solve a real-world problem. The project may involve mathematical modeling, optimization techniques, and the use of differentiation and integration to understand and optimize systems such as transportation, economics, engineering, or environmental processes. Learners will create a comprehensive report that includes mathematical models, calculations, and graphs, and will present their findings in a 5-10 minute oral presentation. This project encourages creativity and critical thinking in applying calculus concepts to practical situations.

Project

Real-world projects creating positive impacts for self, others, communities, and the planet.