Art, Science + Technology
DMA9 Fall 2007, Section BArchive for November 12, 2007
Human Body and Technologies
Why does art focus on the anatomy of the Human Body?
Ever since the renaissance most art has been inspired by the esthetics’s of the human body and its system. Artists such as DaVinci, Salvador Dali, and now the masterminds behind Plastination have all incorporated the beauty they find in the body into art. DaVinci focused on the anatomy of the human body and presented in the Vitruvian man. Salvador Dali was focused on the abstract elements of the body placing different abstract shapes of the human body in different positions and locations. He would place eyes in one part of his work and place the lips on some dimension in the picture or just place it on some other work. Contemporary art now focuses on the physical presentation of the body. Exhibitions such as Plastination all present the body in a bare manner, no flesh, only the interior attributes of the human body. All forms of art, revealing or not; emphasize the importance of the body and no matter how unattractive pleasing the body is the true beauty resides in how it functions. Artists utilize plastic surgery not to beautify the body in a manner that is accepted by all, rather they use it to illustrate to the public how the body is much more interesting when it its different.
Why is plastic surgery an Art?
Plastic Surgery is controversial in today’s world as it is believed to support a shallow mind set and only focuses on a materialistic aspect of life. Plastic surgery offers much more than an esthetics’s pleasure, rather is gives a sense of hope for a better self esteem. Regardless for how plastic surgery is utilized either for esthetics’s or figure reconstruction, it allows an individual to experience art. In my opinion art is like an experiment, nothing ever goes right but it is in the error that one finds beauty in the product. Plastic surgery present s art in a physical way, from changing a nose, to reconstructing the eyes, and sculpting the waist, all the results of plastic surgery endorse a different perspective of the human body. I do admit that plastic surgery is sometimes over used and the result is everything but art. Celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Joanne Rivers all have utilized plastic surgery for the esthetics’s values but the have focused tremendously on their beauty that the have forgotten the art that resides in their individuality. Their transformations have gotten to extreme that they have given plastic surgery a bad reputation; as they do utilize it to support esthetics’s in today’s lifestyle.
http://www.art-plasticsurgery.com/
http://www.amonline.net.au/bodyart/shaping/
http://streetanatomy.com/blog/?cat=16
Week 6 – Peter Chang
I just want to comment on a few things that was gone over in our lectures about biotech and art. We talked about how there were certain pieces of scientific artwork done by modifying the genetic codes of living organisms. At the very end professor Vesna asked if “life is a valid expressive medium” since many people found the modification of genetic code unethical. I can understand how people can find biotech controversial and I have already discussed some main points about that in my midterm presentation. Personally, I kind of stuck between what I believe is good and bad in biotech. There’s so much potential in this field, especially when it comes to things medical. When looking at how bioengineering can potentially grow new limbs for paraplegics, eliminate genetic diseases, ect, I see something great in mankind’s future. But when it comes to biotech engineering as a method of creating something unnatural, or worse, something weapon-like, I then see why many right out oppose such research. Even the simple act of putting regulations on biotech research can spawn new reason for military action.
Art can go a long ways to depict these problems in bioengineering to everyone on Earth. I believe it’s the artist’s job to show the world how much good bioengineering can be to society as well as how much damage it can cause if this research is to be abused by the wrong people or government.
Other things discussed in our lecture also sparked much interest in me. I remember hearing about this new museum attraction of inside-out human bodies in a magazine I read but at the time I didn’t think too much about it, science, or art. When I heard about Bodyworlds again in class I saw what a perfect example that was of art in unison with science. Not only does it help scientists study the human body by displaying body parts like so, it also takes science to create the artwork itself. Who knows what other forms of art we can create in the future when we research in biotech contintues.
Natural Beauty
Recently, I got into a discussion with a friend about natural beauty. At first, we said everybody has natural beauty. There is beauty in every body and some people are just fortunate to be blessed with more beautiful features than others. The plastinated bodies exhibitions shows the beauty of the human body by displaying certain body parts or systems in poses.
However, the issue of make-up and beauty products arose. Perhaps, we said, no one has natural beauty because of the personal products we use, clothes we wear, not to mention the plastic surgery some people use to attain beauty. All these things we use and do to ourselves, no matter how dramatic or subtle, puts on a false appearance. Orlan is famous for using her body for art, especially with plastic surgery. One of her most well known works is the Reincarnation of Saint Orlan in the 1990 in which she underwent a series of plastic surgeries to change into the likeness of some of the best recognized paintings and sculptures including the Mona Lisa. I think Orlan brings up a strong point about our exterior appearance, its changeability and falseness. In her Carnal Art manifesto, she wrote:
“I can observe my own body cut open, without suffering!… I see myself all the way down to my entrails; a new mirror stage. I can see to the heart of my lover; his splendid design has nothing to do with sickly sentimentalities – Darling, I love your spleen; I love your liver; I adore your pancreas, and the line of your femur excites me.”
Maybe beauty really is deeper than skin.
Plastic Surgery
How has marketing/mass media contributed to the plastic surgery craze?
In today’s image obsessed society, plastic surgery has become a commonplace practice for anybody looking to upgrade their look. Now any part of the body can be altered through medical techniques. Doctors now even put out tv and radio commercials and pay for billboards advertising the various enhancements they can make to your body. Marketing has become a crucial part of the industry, with plastic surgeons now buying out newspaper ads that highlight the special financing and low prices they offer. Since when was it ok for doctor’s to be this concerned with money? With more and more celebrities getting work done, whether it be tummy tucks, breast augmentation, nose jobs, or something else, plastic surgery is becoming the norm in America.
Can (or should) anything be done about this increase in plastic surgeries?
I personally believe that this current craze with plastic surgeries is in fact detrimental to our society and should be stopped. The whole concept of being able to change anything you don’t like about yourself through surgery is sending the wrong message to people. Furthermore, I feel that these purely cosmetic procedures are tainting the supposedly benevolent realm of medicine, changing it from field of easing people’s suffering to increasing their sex appeal. The problem is that this has become a very lucrative area. Sex sells, and as long as people are willing to pay lots of money to make themselves look better, there will be doctors there to perform these surgeries and to collect these hefty bills. The solution to this dilemma certainly doesn’t seem to be a simple one.
Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Art3m4yqJqQ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_surgery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson
