ESP Biography

From giant robots to slice of life stories, anime is an incredibly diverse medium. In this class, we will examine the expressive power of anime by looking at thematic and aesthetic elements present in many key examples. In particular, we'll see how anime differs from conventional Western media. The discussion will culminate in a case study of one of the most famous and genre-defining anime of all time: Neon Genesis Evangelion.

How can we use light to analyze the chemical makeup of the ground layer of Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa'? Why do some yellow pigments degrade faster than others despite both being on Picasso's Époques des 'Demoiselles d'Avignon'? These are some of the questions we will be examining in this course, which focuses on how microscopy and spectroscopy (scientific measurement methods that take advantage of how light and matter interact) is used to analyze paintings, sculptures, and other works of art.