Medicine + Technology + Art
This week as we look into art, medicine, and technology all blending together, there is so much to look at. We can look at modern medical machines, cosmetic medicine, and medicine in the form of TV shows, movies, and physical art pieces. This week, Professor Vesna, touched on the ideas of art through medicine in the form of cosmetic surgery, also known as plastic surgery. The artist, Orlan, is one who also changes the appearance of people to make them the subject of new art. I think that this is a great way to think of medicine as art because there are so many different avenues you can take plastic surgery to change or enhance how you look, like art.
The artistic work of Orlan and Orlan, herself
The first time I had to experience any sort of medical technology like an MRI or CT machine, I was pretty young. Growing up in a sport where injuries are always a high risk, you soon become well acquainted with these machines. I never really thought of these machines as art, but the more you look at it, you can bring it back to those original, and very crucial, geometric shapes we learn when we are so young. We can also bring it back to how technology has evolved over time to allow for us to be able to use these machines to diagnose medical conditions. I think that I now can be grateful for the technology and medical practices of these machines, but also acknowledge their advances in art as well.
The medical technology I have encountered
Around the same time that I had my first Xray, MRI, and CT scans, I was exposed to television shows and movies that were centered around medicine or had aspects of medicine integrated into them. In the show, "Grey's Anatomy", the whole drama is centered around surgeons, their jobs, and their personal lives. We see the actors create visual art but also incorporate medical terminology and have some sort of idea of what medicine is all about. In addition to "Grey's Anatomy", the popular movie, "Twilight", also has medical aspects. The movie is not all about medicine, but the main character always seems to seek medical attention at points, which still is bringing in medicine and technology into art. Both the television show and movie had large impacts on my childhood, but I think that they are great examples of the integration of art, technology, and medicine.
<-- On the left, Meredith and Alex from "Grey's Anatomy" waiting on an MRI
On the right, Carlisle stitching up Bella from "Twilight" -->
Works Cited:
Cascone, Sarah. “Provocateur Orlan Reflects on How She Went from Being Reviled for Her Body Art to Claiming Her Place in the Art World.” Artnet News, 14 Sept. 2019, news.artnet.com/art-world/orlan-interview-1650289.
Milosevic, Nikola. “Orlan.” Widewalls, 11 Oct. 2013, www.widewalls.ch/artists/orlan.
Vesna, Victoria. "Human Body & Medical Technologies, part 1".
Vesna, Victoria. "Human Body & Medical Technologies, part 2".
Vesna, Victoria. "Human Body & Medical Technologies, part 3".
Image Citations:
Cascone, Sarah. “Provocateur Orlan Reflects on How She Went from Being Reviled for Her Body Art to Claiming Her Place in the Art World.” Artnet News, 14 Sept. 2019, news.artnet.com/art-world/orlan-interview-1650289.
Fisher, Randy. “WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN X-RAY, CT SCAN, AND MRI?” HipHop Hood Report, 29 Jan. 2019, hhsyc.org/HHReport/2019/01/29/whats-the-difference-between-an-x-ray-ct-scan-and-mri/.
Goldberg, Lesley. “‘grey’s Anatomy’ Stars Negotiating New Contracts.” The Hollywood Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 May 2016, www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/greys-anatomy-stars-negotiating-new-890400/.
Milosevic, Nikola. “Orlan.” Widewalls, 11 Oct. 2013, www.widewalls.ch/artists/orlan.
Ohmycarlisle. “It’s National Doctor Day so Here’s Dr. Carlisle Cullen Fixing up Bella Swan as Doctors Do.” Tumblr, 31 Mar. 2022, www.tumblr.com/ohmycarlisle/680197248522633216/its-national-doctor-day-so-heres-dr-carlisle.
Hi, Ciena! I really enjoyed reading your blog this week. I especially liked your mention of Orlan, the artist who changes people's appearances for art. It is an interesting form of art that encompasses both medicine and creativity! I've never heard of this artist before, so I'm glad you were able to give me some insight into that space. Secondly, I really enjoyed your mention of Grey's Anatomy and how it connects the art of film and media & medicine. Grey's Anatomy is one of my favorites, and I think it's a great example of how medicine, technology, and art all intertwine.
ReplyDeleteHi Ciena! I loved hearing your story and examples to how this week's module about art and medicine related to your life. I also had to get an MRI when I was younger and severely injured my ankle. It is crazy to think about how if doctors used this type of technology in the early 20th century, they weren't viewed as real doctors, as Professor Vesna told us in lecture! I feel like now a days if a doctor relied on their artistic abilities to draw and depict the injury of what was wrong with my ankle, I would call them crazy! Overall, nice work and I love the discussion that you have sparked.
ReplyDeleteHi Ciena! I really like your exploration of the intersection between art, medicine, and technology!
ReplyDeleteI think that your personal experience with these machines adds a unique perspective, emphasizing their importance both in diagnosis and as artistic creations in their own right.
I also enjoyed reading your reflections on popular culture further illustrate how medicine and technology permeate our artistic narratives. Whether it's the high-stakes drama of "Grey's Anatomy" or the subtle incorporation of medical themes in "Twilight," these portrayals serve as compelling reminders of the complex relationship between art, technology, and medicine.
Hi Ciena! I really enjoyed reading your blog because you touched on experiences which combined art and science/medicine that I have also faced! I grew up reading the Twilight books and watching the movies but never bridged that film and art was combining with medical practices. Similarly, in Grey's Anatomy, the cast, writers, directors, etc. who I consider artists also have to learn medical terms and practices to be able to create a realistic show. I also liked that you brought up plastic surgery because that is art! I mentioned in my blog that doctors are artists and plastic surgeons are a perfect example as they resculpt the human body!
ReplyDeleteHi Ciena! Thanks for sharing your insights in this week's blog and your discussion surely inspired me! The association you made between plastic surgery and arts is something I didn't think of, but the reshaping of human appearance in these procedures is definitely a form of art since it gives freedom of expression to patients about their appearance, making plastic surgeons artists in that process. Your mentioning of the frequent utilization of medicine in cinemas and tv productions is also a prevalent phenomenon that validates the intersected and mutually fostering relationship between medicine and arts.
ReplyDeleteHi Ciena, I loved reading your blog about this week's material! I also was intrigued by the artist Orlan and enjoyed how she utilized plastic surgery as a creative avenue to form art while also commenting on societal beauty standards. I like how you tied information from this week into experiences from your own personal life. I also have lots of experience with injuries and, thus, x-rays and MRI machines, so I understand that aspect. I, too, never considered them influential in the art realm before, but this module enlightened me on the intersection of art and medicine.
ReplyDeleteHi Ciena, I enjoyed reading your blog and your experiences with the marriage of art, technology and medicine you noticed. Although plastic surgery is always emphasized as reimagining physical appearance in the media it never occurred to me that it could be considered art. It always seems to be a medical procedure related to vanity. I, too, have my fair share of experiences with x-rays and MRI machines so I never once considered it have any influence on art. Your mention of shows that use medical technology was illuminating. I have watched "The Resident", "9-1-1", and "New Amsterdam" among other shows and their use of medical terminology and machines demonstrated the influence medicine has on art. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete