Medicine, Medical Technology, and Art

Artist Sketch of Human Anatomy

This week’s topic particularly excited me because of my interest in medicine. I was very involved in art when I was younger, but as I became more focused on academics, my interests deviated away from art; to me they were mutually exclusive so, this week I was excited to see how they intertwine.

Human Sliced for Visual Human Project

Ingber discusses basic structure of biological molecules and the way they combine as incredibly artistic in his article for Scientific American, but medicine on a grander scale interests me more (Ingber). Early on in medicine’s history, doctors and artists collaborated to create incredibly accurate depictions of the human form. Doctors needed artists to draw detailed diagrams of different systems of the body, and artists needed doctors to validate their artistic representations of the body with science. Art manifested itself in the Visible Human Project, which is composed of digitally represented cross sections of the male and female anatomy (Vesna, Pt1). On the surface, this endeavor seemed purely scientific, but I later considered the creative ability it took to visualize a human made up of thin slices and recognized the overlap of medicine and art.

Orlan Preparing for A Surgical Performance

The way art can most obviously be seen in medicine is plastic surgery. Surgeons literally reconstruct the human form into a more aesthetically pleasing shape. One artist whose work made a powerful impact on me was Orlan, a french artist who used her own body as a medium. Since 1990 she has had 9 cosmetic surgeries, each done as a performance (Vesna, Pt3). Not only does she incorporate science and new medical technology into her art, but she makes grand statements about ridiculous beauty standards that are very relevant to my generation.

Virtual Reality Therapy

Although learning about the history of medicine and art was intriguing, what struck me the most this week was Diane Gromala’s talk on chronic pain.  She began by commenting on our current culture and how our dependence language has disconnected us from our senses. Humans have 100,000 times more inner sensors than external senses and getting more in touch with our inner world can be helpful for those with chronic pain. Her current work with virtual reality and its ability to help patients focus their energy inward has a meditative effect and can relieve many symptoms temporarily (Gromala). This shows the incredible therapeutic power of art on humans not only psychologically, but physiologically as well.

Fripp, Alfred. "Human Anatomy for Art Students." Pintrest. N.p., 1911. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Ffoxyenglishlass%2Fart-human-anatomy-for-art-students%2F>.

Gandey, Allison. "Medscape Log In." Medscape. WebMD, 14 May 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/721680>.

Gromala, Diane. "Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty." YouTube. TEDxAmericanRiviera, 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdarMz--Pw>.

Ingber, Donald E. "The Architecture of Life." Scientific American Jan. 1997: n. pag. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.

Orlan. "The Reincarnation of Saint-Orlan." Creative Mapping. Creative Mapping, 04 Aug. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.creative-mapping.com/controversial-french-artist-orlan-is-perhaps-most-infamous-for-using-her-own-body-as-a-tool-for-a-series-of-performance-surgeries-known-as-the-reincarnation-of-saint-orlan/>.

Sellers, Emily. "Visible Human Project" Glogster. N.p., 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.glogster.com/emilysellers/visible-human-project/g-6lt4etm95cl8j5agptuuga0>.

Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath Today." PBS. PBS, 27 Mar. 2001. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4#t=188>.

Getty Villa

Myself and my Friend Sydney in the Getty Villa Garden

During week two when I studied the relationship between math and art, I noticed the ancient Greeks and Romans used many special mathematical tools in their art and architecture such as the golden ratio and the ideal proportions of human beings. The Parthenon is a breathtaking example along with nearly every marble statue of a god, muse, or human being (Vesna). I chose to attend the Getty Villa as my first event having been inspired by the art and architecture of the ancient Greeks.

Mosaic Fountain

When I arrived, I was struck by the breathtaking architecture and beautiful view over the ocean. Soon after I arrived I realized the ancient Greek exhibits did not have much in the way of science or technology incorporated. The statues were aesthetically pleasing, but then I discovered something more fascinating, ancient glass blowing. The exhibit immediately caught my eye because of its colors and although it was small, there was much to learn.

The ancient glass at the Getty Villa was from the collection of Erwin Oppenländer. The many different styles that appeared came from
“the variety of ancient glassmaking techniques, such as casting, core forming, mosaic, inflation, mold blowing, cameo carving, incising, and cutting” (Molten Color). Every single one of these techniques, although modernized, is still used today.

Intricate Bowl Design

In some further research about glass blowing I found out the main ingredient of glass is silicon dioxide, more commonly called sand. Adding common medal oxides causes this glass to be more easily blown and have brilliant colors (Toothman). Learning this made it seem more realistic than ancient peoples could create such beautiful intricate pieces of art. Although there were many different ancient glassblowing techniques, “many of the earliest glass objects were made by pouring hot glass into a mold that gave a piece its shape... The most common kinds of cast vessels are bowls but pendants, inlays, and other small objects were also created in this manner”(Molten Color).

A Variety of the Different Glass from Antiquity

My trip to the Getty Villa was a wonderful way to spend my afternoon, but I would not recommend it to another student in this class going for an assignment. I found it difficult to relate ancient art to technology and science. That being said, it was a beautiful location and a wonderful museum to visit.

Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity. Erwin Oppenländer Collection. California, Los Angeles. 12 Apr. 2015. Exhibit.

Toothman, Jessika. "How Glassblowing Works." HowStuffWorks. Infospace LLC, 05 Sept. 2006. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/glassblowing.htm>.

Vesna, Victoria. Math Intro. YouTube. Uconlineprogram, 10 April 2015. Web. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHiL9iskUWM&feature=player_embedded>.

Mechanization, Robotics, and Art

Gutenberg's Printing Press

The dynamic relationship between technology and art has been developing ever since technology first appeared in 1439 when Johannes Gutenberg introduced printing with movable type [3]. These two seemingly different disciplines overlap and intermingle in a complex and fascinating way. Mechanization really began to permeate Americans’ every day lives in the early 1900s with Ford’s invention of the automobile. With an assembly line factory type of production, he was able to standardize the way his cars were produced, but mechanization in the work place brought mechanization to American society as a whole. This move to factory life had adverse affects on the creativity and the individualized self [4].

A Scene Represented in Film and Painting

In his essay, Walter Benjamin comments on this new phenomenon of mass production of, not cars, but art. New technology allows art to be printed and reprinted again and again, detaching the viewer from the original image’s aura, which, Benjamin argues, shatters the tradition of originality in artwork. The relatively new medium of film, which requires a lot of technology, is undoubtedly viewed as art, but what makes a cameraman so different than a painter? Benjamin defines art as something that is both visually and emotionally stimulating, and although he recognizes that this is true of both paintings and movies, he sees the American people as passive rather than engaged observers of film [1].

In his paper, Douglas Davis recognizes the problem with a lack of distinction between an original piece of artwork and a reproduction, but he also acknowledges the great things technology has done for art and general creativity. He discusses the development of the Internet and how it has become a resource not only for intellectual pursuit but has revolutionized the resources we now have for artistic expression. He says that the internet will “empower imagination rather than reason, as new tools placed in the hands of people with open minds always have” [2].

An Artistic Representation of Robotics and their Affects on Society

The guest lecturer Machiko Kasuhara speaks about technology in our lives in the context of robots. She recognizes this advanced technology as a scientific endeavor, but does not disregard its creative and artistic applications. Designers and engineers in Japan are constantly looking for new ways to incorporate robotics into our everyday lives which should make us all ask, is there a distinct border between artist and engineer [6]? I believe that throwing all of your creative energy into something can turn it into art.

 [1] Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." (1936): n. pag. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

[2] Douglas Davis. Leonardo, Vol. 28, No. 5, Third Annual New York Digital Salon. (1995), pp. 381-386. <http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0024-094X%281995%2928%3A5%3C381%3ATWOAIT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-M>.

[3] Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRw9_v6w0ew>.

[4] Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk>.

[5] Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 16 Apr. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkP7oSZVkbg>.

[6] Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics MachikoKusahara 1." YouTube. YouTube, 14 Apr. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQZ_sy-mdEU>.

https://publishistory.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/hdf1969_18agrandesinventions_web1.jpg?w=908

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jz__VcHCBrlHcv6PF-I7G7MkUutBZAZNBrVJFZVGpnmIHXqenPPt_eDlFG04jmGwHRZl7z_iuK4B47gI3LIfV5xd83fJ9m42E3KYBIW85RtNnKHwycZfhzVB8XJs6Eyw87WXMbXFut03/s1600/Shirley+and+Hopper+9+IIHIH.jpg

Mathematics and Art

The Parthenon and its Golden Ratio

I always knew that mathematics had influence on the mechanics of art and its execution, but I never thought about the ways in which mathematics influenced art’s development. In 1316 Duccio created the first painting that gave the viewer depth perception, and in 1413 Brunelleschi came up with the concept of the vanishing point. He used mathematical principal to create the first correct version of perspective and to control how the viewer perceived his art.

Egyptian Pyramids

Even before Duccio and Brunelleschi, the Greeks were incorporating math into their art and architecture. The golden ratio of 1:1.618 creates an aesthetically pleasing structure in buildings and can be seen in many ancient structures like the Parthenon, which was built in Athens in 440 BC. The golden ratio is the ultimate connection between math and art and was first seen in the Egyptian pyramids.

In his paper “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art”,

Time Noble and Susan Webster's Four Dimensional Art

Henderson discusses the development and metamorphosis of the fourth dimension in the context of science and art. He says that a belief in a fourth dimension is necessary for good abstract art. This fourth dimension can be represented by motion, shadow, mirror, virtual images, or even the lapse of time. Charles Sirato wrote a manifesto about pushing art to the next dimension that really resonated with me. He said he wanted “literature to depart from the line and move into the plane…Painting to leave the plane and occupy space…[and] sculpture to abandon closed immobile and dead space… in order to conquer for artistic expression the four-dimensional space”. As art takes on new dimensions, mathematics continually fuses more and more with art.

“Flatland” by Edwin Abbott is a unique conception of our society and the inability to conceive of further dimensions. The flatland Abbott is writing about is a two dimensional world where a third dimension cannot be imagined. As the screenplay goes on, the reader can see its parallels with our own world. The character’s lack of desire to explore a further dimension nearly parallels the lack of communication between artists and scientists that I explored in our topic of two cultures. With his artistic description of the mathematical concept of dimensions, Abbott nicely represents an overlap of art and math, yet still emphasizes their disjunct and our society’s reluctance to let art and science fuse into one.

Abbott, Edwin. “Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions.” N.p., n.d. Web. 10 April 2015. <https://cole.uconline.edu/content>.

Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion.” Leonardo. 17.3 (1984): 205-210. Print.

History.com Staff. "Egyptian Pyramids." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/the-egyptian-pyramids>.

Math Intro. By Victoria Vesna. YouTube. Uconlineprogram, 10 April 2015. Web. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHiL9iskUWM&feature=player_embedded>.

Noble, Tim, and Sue Webster. "Shadow Art Created Using Garbage." I Like To Waste My Time. ILTWMT, 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. <http://iliketowastemytime.com/2012/10/17/shadow-art-created-using-garbage-8-pics>.

Wing, Jim. "The Mathematics of the Fibonacci Sequence and Golden Spiral." Wing's Daily News. Word Press, 05 Apr. 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wingsdailynews.com%2Ftag%2Fgolden-ratio%2F>.

Two Cultures

Stylish Socks and Sandals

I have always found myself drawn to mixing things that don’t usually go together. Milk and orange juice create a delightful creamsicle-like drink, socks and sandals are the perfect attire for a California winter, and double majoring with philosophy and physiological sciences makes me incredibly happy.

My decision to double major in two very different subjects was motivated by my equal and non-conflicting passions for the human body and the depths of the human mind. C. P. Snow, in his endeavor to highlight the increasing separation between artists and scientists, comments on the need for a third culture; a culture in which people explore art in the context of science and science in the context of art; a culture that is emerging.

Andrew Krasnow's Hollow Muscle is a heart made from human skin

C. P. Snow wrote on this issue in 1959 and today, in 2015 I believe we have made progress toward the flexible and creative mindset of the third culture. Stephen Wilson notices that “artists have been eager to adopt the fruits of technological research and others have been much influenced by the concepts and contexts of science”. Scientists are now exploring current philosophy and artists are delving into new scientific mediums of expression.

More overlap of the two fields of art and science will not only make it easier for artists and scientists to communicate, but I believe that the emergence of a more well rounded professional will transform the quality and efficiency of their work. I truly believe I will become a better doctor if I can question and think critically like a philosopher.

Pensive Doctor

Although many people are quite confused when they discover my seemingly conflicting majors, I am sure that it will not always be this way. Our education system is moving in a direction that encourages a broad base of knowledge and not one simple specialization. I hope that one day soon more people will be able to see the enormous benefit of studying philosophy and medicine in conjunction, rather than superficially focusing on their differences.

Keros, Sotirios. "Cognitive Biases in Medicine: The Power of the Default Option Aka “Status Quo Bias”." Musings on Medicine and Money. Sotirioskeros, 26 Mar. 2014. Web. 02 Apr. 2015.

Robinson, Ken. "Changing Education Paradigms." YouTube. RSA Animate, 14 Oct. 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2015.

Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961. Print.

Solon, Olivia. "Science-Steeped Art Explores Physical, Mental Trauma | WIRED." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.

"Tumblr." Birkenstocks with Socks. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo. 34 (2001): 121-125. Print.

Wilson, Stephen D. “Myths and Confusions in Thinking about Art/Science/Technology.” College Art Association Meetings. New York, New York, 2000. Print