Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

Just as Vesna said, the medical industry would not be as advanced as it is now if it were not for art. Even in the 15th century, artists like Leonardo Da Vinci was fascinated by human anatomy, as shown in his anatomical drawing of the male body. It was interesting to think about how before technology, medical illustrations were pieces of art and critical for medical care. Doctors relied heavily on art to represent the body correctly. Just as Vesna said, artists had a “critical role in documenting the progress and understanding the body.” In the article by Ingber, he describes how nature is art and how art creates the patterns and structures of living things. I think this is interesting because when you dissect a body or another living organism, the bone structure and placement of organs are often very symmetrical, artistic, and tends to consist of patterns. The creation of nature and life is genuinely a work of art.

What was interesting to me was that art was not only important in recording medical history, but it plays an important role in treating illnesses. In Gromala’s Ted Talk, she discusses how someone who suffers from immense chronic pain can help relieve themselves by creating art. I found this to be interesting because practices like these show the importance of the connection between art and medicine: creation of art can help heal the body and mind, which is an important part of medicine.

Before this week’s lesson, I did not realize just how connected medicine and art were. But when I think about it, plastic surgery is a form of art. Although it is a medicinal practice, it is purely cosmetic and allows people to redesign the body as if it were a sculpture.

I think for people to not recognize art, medicine, and life are all intertwined would be ignorant of them. Based on the history of medical practice and the continuing importance of innovation and breakthroughs in the medical world prove that art and science should be taught together.

Sources:

“TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty.” YouTube, 7 Dec. 2011, youtu.be/cRdarMz--Pw.

Ingber, Donald. “The Architecture of Life”. Scientific American, January 1998. Pp. 48-56.

Stelarc. “Stelarc.” Med in Art, www.medinart.eu/works/stelarc/.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine + Technology + Art.” Lecture part 2. April 29, 2018.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine + Technology + Art.” Lecture part 1. April 29, 2018.

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