Week 4: MedTech + Art

This week's lecture was particularly interesting to me as a premed student, who has a strong interest in art also. Professor Vesna mentioned that in the past, doctors were seen as artists, and dissection was seen as art. For me, I was always able to make that connection as well, since my concentration for AP art was a focus on human expression and form. The picture below was actually a drawing I did in high school. The reference was an anatomical skeleton model. While my proportions were not perfect at this time (or now), I was still able to appreciate the beauty of the inner workings of the human body through art.
My drawing from high school.
Furthermore, in Orlan's surgical performances, which is very shocking, I was also amazed by the extent to which medicine and art intersect. When it comes to plastic surgery, I often discuss the social and cultural implications, often forgetting that it is a form of art in itself. I find it fascinating that it also originated from wartime, although intuitive, it is ironic to think that art can emerge from such an ugly event in men's history.
Orlan's surgery performance.
On the other hand, Kevin Warwick's surgical experiment was also a form of art, in that it illustrated the beauty of technology and the possible implications the procedure has on artificial intelligence and medicine. His inventions could even possibly help patients with Parkinson's disease, which currently has no cure. While we advance the art of technology, we could also be making big changes in the world of medicine. The functional applications of art and technology in medicine is a topic that I'm interested to explore further in my own career as well. 
Kevin Warwick's implant.
1) Haus der Kulturen der Welt. <https://www.hkw.de/de/index.php?188>. 
2) Emily Watson. <http://www.metalemily.com/>. 
3) Kevin Warwick. <http://www.kevinwarwick.org/>. 
4) Mission Eternity. <http://www.missioneternity.org/>.
5) Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/Ep0M2bOM9Tk.” Lecture. Medicine pt1 . Youtube, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.
Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/FIX-9mXd3Y4.” Lecture. Medicine pt3. Youtube, 22 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4>.
Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/psjnQarHOqQ.” Lecture. Medicine pt2 . Youtube, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ>.

Comments

  1. Audrey GoodmanApril 30, 2019 at 12:09 PM

    Hi Diane,

    I thought your discussion of the social and cultural implications of plastic surgery was interesting. I also thought Kevin Warwick’s surgical experiment was extremely interesting, as you discussed it not only is a form of art, but also involves artificial intelligence and medicine, which ties in last week’s topic as well.
    On another note, your artwork from high school is very impressive and captivating, and definitely captures the relation between the human body and art!

    - Audrey Goodman

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