Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art


The human body and its physiology is intriguing to me, so I was super excited about this weeks' topic on Medicine + Technology +Art. The human body has presented fascination to many people throughout time, starting with the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians, which has transferred to present day with doctors saving lives on the daily. This goes "back to the times of human dissection that truly is the intersection of art and science,"(Vesna, Medicine pt.1).

 As presented in lecture Medicine pt.1 by professor Vesna, the attraction of the body continues and is displayed through the traveling exhibition Body Worlds. It is amazing that in our modern world we are able to preserve and create art out of human bodies through the combination of both medicine and technology.
Courtesy of:: https://www.musement.com/us/amsterdam/skip-the-line-ticket-body-worlds-of-amsterdam-the-happiness-project-2193/


The documentary of Orlan and her artwork is the most interesting art I have ever encountered. I give props to Orlan for enduring surgical procedures in order to demonstrate her vision of art and beauty to others. I personally found her art to be disturbing and felt uncomfortable watching the documentary, however it is inspiring to she someone so passionate in their work. Medicine pt.3 lecture stated that plastic surgery was originally used in reconstructive surgery for soldiers in WWI because of the injuries that were endured. However, in today’s society it is used for beauty enhancement, and in Orlan’s case it is considered to be a form of art.

Courtesy of: http://www.ienhance.com/articles/the-weird-science-of-plastic-surgery-art-introducing-artist-orlan


Over the past few centuries “technology has influenced medicine in particular, but also how the human being is shifting through biotechnology and nanotechnology,” (Vesna, Medicine pt3).  I am truly thankful for these advancements in medicine and technology because it has personally impacted my family in particular by saving my mothers life. I am also appreciative because I have to get hip surgery in a month and it could not be possible without modern medicine.

In Diane Gromala’s Ted talk, medicine, art and technology have been combined to create immersive virtual reality that has been effective in relieving short-term pain. The virtual reality is almost as effective as using opioids. The immersive virtual reality is so effective that it is considered “non-pharmacological analgesic.” I find it so impressive and novel that an art media form can relieve pain in humans.
Courtesy ofhttp://random42.com/virtual-reality



Citations:

MutleeIsTheAntiGod. "Orlan - Carnal Art (2001) Documentary." YouTube. YouTube, 13 Mar. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.

TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty." TEDxAmericanRiviera Diane Gromala Curative Powers of Wet Raw Beauty. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.

Vesna, V. (n.d.) Body Medicine Intro. Lecture.

Vesna, V. (n.d.) Medicine pt1. Lecture.

Vesna, V. (n.d.) Medicine pt3. Lecture.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 3, 2017 at 10:09 AM

    It is really interesting to see how people preserve and create art from human bodies. It has evolved from using salt in ancient Egypt to using the modern technology and medicinal techniques. It is amazing as to how people get intrigued by what's inside of them.

    ReplyDelete

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