Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

Prior to this week’s lecture, I would have never suspected that the intersection between medicine, technology, and art lies in the human anatomy. Both scientist and artist find a huge interest in anatomy and atomic structure. The fascination begun at the time of renaissance, especially the work of Vesalii, who is the father of the human anatomy and from his work inspired many forms of art. A surprising form of art that has derived from the fascination of the human anatomy is the MRI. Now being able to study and view humans on a microscopic level brings a new interest into human anatomy and creates and new appreciation for the human body. MRI can be considered art because, like art, it too is open for interpretation and can is diagnosed under human discretion. 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146309.php

Medicine and art can be dangerous to discover as well as to practice. Through lecture I learned of artist and scientist pushing the limits of the human body to see the extremes they can go to. Examples such as, Orlan an artist who went under multiple procedures on her body to be displayed as beautiful. This is very relevant today because we are in an age of plastic surgery as well as transgender surgery for people to now finally display how they are truly feeling on the inside in their appearance. Just as recently as this weekend was an interview with former olympian Bruce Jenner, where he came out and said that he is transgender.

http://deadline.com/2015/03/bruce-jenner-interview-diane-sawyer-abc-1201390958/

Another fairly recent discover that I find very interesting is the creation of hearing-aids. Just recently can we now allow everyone to be able to hear the beauty of sound. Modern technology has allowed us to use devices to enable a person to hear. Hearing aids is a good example of modern technology and art coming together to provide beauty as well as a benefit to society. 

http://hearingaidbuyertoday.com/facts-cost-hearing-aids/

Sources:

1) Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/Ep0M2bOM9Tk.” Lecture. Medicine pt1 . Youtube, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.

2)Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations Between Science and Arts.” (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

3)Orlan – Carnal Art (2001) Documentary. Dir. Stéphan Oriach. Perf. Orlan. N.d. Film. YouTube. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. 

4) Wong, Virgil. “Art Exhibited in Galleries and Museums around the World.” Art. N.p., 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://virgilwong.com/art/>.

5) Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/psjnQarHOqQ.” Lecture. Medicine pt2 . Youtube, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ>.