Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

Art and medicine are more closely related than one may think. Often times, people may overlook the impact that our understanding of medicine through technology has on art, but truthfully, our perception of art would not be the same without it. Without knowledge of medicine and the assistance of technology, we would lack an understanding of human anatomy, and consequently artists would have a difficult time producing accurate representations of the human body. Thus, art and medicine are intertwined and at times require the simultaneous involvement of both subjects. 

Drawing of legs walking, with pelvic bones, hip bones, and muscle of thighs visible
Dissected Legs Walking in a Landscape from Giulio Casseri

Additionally, as Victoria Vesna mentioned, another prime example of the intersection of art, medicine, and technology is plastic surgery. Artist Orlan, for instance, emphasized this relation through her performances which involved live plastic surgery as well as explanations of beauty and peoples' perception of it. Plastic surgery requires mastery of medical knowledge as well as relies on the ability to create beauty which is an intense form of artistic expression. 

Plastic Surgery: The Latest Trends
The involvement of art in plastic surgery

In relation to technology, as we progress, we will become more familiar with the human body, which is not only beneficial to our understanding of medicine but also the way we perceive the human body in an artistic perspective. Prosthetics, for example, are becoming more advanced with time as well as accessible to patients who require the assistance as a result of breakthroughs in technology and medicine. What's even more fascinating is the fact that prosthetics have been used as a means of artistic expression to foster confidence and positivity. 

Turning prosthetic limbs into art | CNN Business
Customized prosthetics for amputees


Images:

Kornell, Monique. “It Takes Artists and Scientists to Understand the Human Body.” Getty, https://www.getty.edu/news/it-takes-artists-and-scientists-to-understand-the-human-body/. 

Holland, Kimberly. “Plastic Surgery: The Latest Trends.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 31 Mar. 2017, https://www.healthline.com/health-news/latest-trends-in-plastic-surgery. 

“Turning Prosthetic Limbs into Art | CNN Business.” CNN, Cable News Network, 23 Mar. 2012, https://www.cnn.com/2012/03/23/tech/turning-prosthetic-limbs-into-art/index.html. 


Sources:

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine + Technology + Art.” 21 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, UCLA.

Kornell, Monique. “It Takes Artists and Scientists to Understand the Human Body.” Getty, https://www.getty.edu/news/it-takes-artists-and-scientists-to-understand-the-human-body/.

Choi, Jeongho. “Cosmetic Surgery: Is It Science or Art?” Archives of Plastic Surgery, The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Sept. 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4579193/.  

“These Prosthetic Limbs Are Literal Artistic Masterpieces.” Nerdist, https://nerdist.com/article/prosthetic-limbs-art-alternative-limb-project/. 

“The Relationship: Medicine Is Both Art and Science.” Beacon Lens, 24 Nov. 2015, www.beaconlens.com/medicine-art-and-science/.

Comments

  1. LarisaAssadourianDESMA9April 24, 2022 at 9:54 PM

    Hello Johnathan! I really enjoyed your discussion on how both plastic surgery and prosthetics are a form of artistic self expression. To be honest, even though I had noticed how people with prosthetics often personalize them with interesting colors and designs, I had never really considered plastic surgery as a form of art. However, I have come to realize that plastic surgery is not always a procedure that means changing yourself to suit the social standard, but it is in fact a personal modification and a form of self-expression that helps one achieve beauty in their own eyes. Amazing work!

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