Medicine + Technology + Art

It can be difficult for your average human to find a connection between medicine, technology, and art, but after viewing this week's assignment, I can now see the connection. There are so many different things that connect the three, and understanding this can give you a whole different view on the subject matter. The first thing that struck me when thinking about art and medicine was the anatomy of the human body. Although it may not seem like art, the human body is a complex system with various different things occurring. In essence, the human body is art. Without artists like Andreas Vesalius, who was one of the first to accurately depict the structure of a human body, we would not be able to see the body and explain what is going on with it as easily. If you think about it, even skeletons are art forms, as they are designed and used to help the world understand the body. 

 Furthermore, medicine can be seen as an art form, as it can transform the human body and give a person their desired appearance. For example, a teenage boy dealing with bad acne can get on a prescription known as "Accutane," and within a year or so, he will never have to worry about acne again. Because of our technological advancements in medicine, one can be completely transformed. Plastic surgery is one type of procedure that can be seen as art. A person can be upset about their appearance one day, and the next day they can undergo surgery and have a completely different look. 

Finally, another art linked with medicine and technology is braille. Braille is a vital tool in our modern world, necessary for those with blindness. One can run their fingers across dots, and form words based off of that. It is a jaw-dropping concept that is a huge advancement in our world. It gives us a way to communicate with those dealing with blindness without using our voice. So many different things connect medicine, technology, and art, and these are just a few of the many examples.

Sources: 

"Vesalius - Pages 3 and 4." Virtual Books: Images Only. British Library, 1543. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/vesalius/accessible/pages3and4.html#content

Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/Ep0M2bOM9Tk.” Lecture. Medicine pt1 . Youtube, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/psjnQarHOqQ.” Lecture. Medicine pt2 . Youtube, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ>.

"The National Museum of Health and Medicine." Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

"Visual Art for the Visually Impaired by Roy Nachum." Yatzer.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

Cotter, Holland. "Artist’s Life: Cut, Nip and Tuck." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Apr. 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.