Medicine, Technology & Art

        This week, in Vesna's lectures, we learned about the human body, how science and technology have influenced medicine, and how our bodies are being manipulated and the way we see ourselves is shifting. Anatomy and dissection are at the intersection of art and science. Artists have always been fascinated with the medical field. As technology advanced, as did our knowledge of the human body, which increased artists abilities to portray the human body correctly. 

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This advancing technology includes X-Rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and CAT Scans. These are all scanning machines that give a more clear, accurate representation of muscles, tendons and organs etc. Not only does advancing technology give a better understanding of the human body, but a way to treat it. Diane Gromala explains in her TEDTalk how she has struggled with chronic pain, and how medical advancements have allowed her to manage this chronic pain for over 25 years.

 

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Something that people often perceive as a new technological advancement is plastic surgery, when in fact it is quite the opposite. It has been around for around 4000 years, actually coming from the East in Ancient India. As technology in wars became more advanced, the injuries became more destructive. Doctors had to deal with many facial injuries, therefore they started performing plastic surgery. 

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Nowadays, when people think of plastic surgery, they don't think about men in the war needing facial reconstruction. They picture the housewives of Beverly Hills. Today plastic surgery is viewed as more cosmetic and superficial. Women are getting lip injections, face lifts, nose jobs and more, putting them in control of what they look like. 

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        While technological advancements are beneficial for medicine, science and art, they also create a shift in the way we view ourselves. I don't' believe that getting plastic surgery and controlling what you look like is healthy. Orlan was a French woman who started a series of surgical performances that were live and videotaped. Everyone who attended these performances were in costume. I believe that this is freakish and unhealthy and this skews the idea of beauty and what it means to age. 

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Citations

Gromala, Diana. "TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane, Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty". Youtube. TEDx Talks. Youtube, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

Satava, Richard M. "Advanced Technologies and the Future of Medicine and Surgery." PMC. Public Medical Central, 31 Dec. 2008. Web. 18 Apr. 2016. 

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine pt1." Youtube. Uconlineprogram. 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine pt2." Youtube. Uconlineprogram. 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine pt3." Youtube. Uconlineprogram. 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.