Week 4 - "MedTech + Art"

I found this week’s lectures to be very interesting, mainly because I had touched on this topic briefly in my last post concerning robotics. This week’s topic focuses on the technological advances made in the medical field and how it relates to art (Vesna). My interpretation of the connection between the medical field and art is much more obvious than my interpretation of the connection between science and art. This is because I do not view medicine as a pure science. True, medicine is the study of science, but the practice of medicine can be described as applied science and much more of an art form than other sciences (Panda). As Professor Vesna mentioned in lecture, one of the connections made between medicine and art was in plastic surgery. 

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Some may see plastic surgery as an art because it allows the artist, the surgeon, to sculpt a new face from the model, the patient. According to Holland Cotter of the New York Times, “The human body is their medium, the operating room their studio. The tools of their craft include multifarious cutting, clamping, probing and sewing devices, as well as digital and laser technologies. Most of the work that results is a living art. It can be seen walking among us in the form of revamped and – this is, of course, the point – improved faces and figures.” In my opinion, this sentiment gives art a bad name. Growing up, I was taught to value individuality and embracing natural beauty. However, using plastic surgery as a form of art seems to be overstepping some boundaries. 

The Reincarnation of Saint-Orlan

This can be seen with Orlan’s Reincarnation of Saint-Orlan project. Orlan underwent numerous surgeries in order to achieve the beauty portrayed by the portraits of famous artists. I do not believe this is art, but rather a superficial attempt at art. Plastic surgery has evolved as an art form in that doctors are finding new and efficient medical procedures using their imagination. These procedures are used to help burn victims, domestic violence victims, and other wounded victims (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) and should not be made a mockery as in Orlan’s case. 

Reconstructive Plastic Surgery on Cleft Lip and Palate

Thus, I do believe that medicine can be considered an art form but that there is a fine line.

Citations

Cotter, Holland. “Artist’s Life: Cut, Nip and Tuck.” The New York Times. 19 Arp. 2009. Web.

Panda, S.C. “Medicine: Science or Art?” Mens Sana Monographs 4.1(2006): 127-38. Print.

“Reconstructive Procedures.” American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Web.

Rose, Barbara. “Orlan: Is it Art? Orlan and the Transgressive Act.” Stanford. 2 Feb. 1993. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. “Unit Four: MedTech + Art.” 2012. Web.