MedTech + Art

Listening and reading of the different medical technologies and procedures I am familiar with hearing about on a daily basis, I was quite surprised to learn there is an artistic perspective behind the medical field.  For instance, dissection is one that is no stranger to the arts because both medicine and art are important for one another when viewing anatomy.  As stated by Professor Vesna, the Renaissance period was when art became most important for dissection.  

(Image: Wikipedia/Anatomy)

Artists could depict what was discovered through dissection by doctors or anatomists.
According to Peter Tyson’s, “The Hippocratic Oath Today”, he mentions how the Hippocratic Oath states that doctors must “teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation”.  It is evident through the artwork of dissection and anatomy research that the next generation is learning from past discoveries about the body to further advance research of the body. The best example of this passing on of research is through a book by Henry Gray called Gray's Anatomy.
(Image: body)


Professor Vesna also mentions the use of x-rays, not only used in medicine, but in many different places of society such as factories and airports.  X-rays gave artists a perspective of depicting the dead.  It was a way to spread new perspectives about the afterlife and how to show people what is under their outer appearance.


(Image: Dream-Wallpaper.com)

Silvia Casini mentions in her article, "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts", that she experienced a, "shock of recognition" after seeing her own movements in the form of a skeleton as if she did not exist. Furthermore, in the trailer for the movie "Artificial Intelligence" by Steven Spielberg, the little boy who appears to be a robot and non-human wants to experience the feeling of being a real boy. It seemed as the same but opposite situation as Casini's because she was experiencing being nonexistent while the little boy was experiencing the opposite.

(Video: Youtube)


The last topic covered was the art and medical practice of plastic surgery. To me, this seems to be the most evident correlation between art and medicine because many people physically change their outer appearance so it can be viewed by the outside world and seen as a way of art on themselves. I found it most interesting to discover from Professor Vesna about a woman who has plastic surgeries performed on her while she reads to audiences as a form of entertainment art. It is quite fascinating to learn of the unique relationships medicine and art have with one another.


Works Cited

Artificial Intelligence. Dir. Steven Speilberg. Perf. Haley Joel Osment, William Hurt, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor. N.d. 29 Aug. 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. <https://youtu.be/ECGnWoQgz6Q>. 
Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Con Gurations between Science and the Arts." Configurations. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2011. N. pag. Print. 
Landseer, Charles. N.d. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomy#/media/File:An_écorché_figure_(life-size),_lying_prone_on_a_table_Wellcome_L0020561.jpg>. 
N.d. Dream-Wallpaper. Web. 30 Apr. 2017. <http://www.dream-wallpaper.com/art-wallpaper/x-ray-wallpaper/1600x1200/free-wallpaper-2.html>. 
Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath Today." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, 27 Mar. 2001. Web. 01 May 2017. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html>.


Comments

  1. UnknownMay 3, 2017 at 11:46 PM

    Hey Madilyn, I also found the subject of plastic surgery interesting as well. I think it relates to art because people use medicine to change their outer appearance which is considered art.

    ReplyDelete

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