Image result for ucsb chemistryImage result for ucsb art buildingEve Laramee says “I am interested in the ways in which cultures use science and art as devices or maps to construct belief systems.” This quote sparked my attention because I completely relate to it. In general, we never think about how art and medicine are related. Being in college, art majors and medical field majors are considered complete opposites and classes as well as buildings designated for those majors, are place are opposite sides of campus. However, this week’s lectures and readings have shown me that in some ways medicine and art are, in fact, related.
Chemistry building(right side), located on North side of campus
Arts building(left side), located on Southside of campus
Image result for kardashian's plastic surgery
The body in itself is art. From our skin color and body shape, to the different textures we obtain. As Professor Vesna says in lecture “ MedTech+Art”, medicine is a form of art. But how ? What aspects of medicine are considered artistic ? When thinking about the medicine and art worlds coming together, I instantly think of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is basically considered an artistic medical procedure. While doctors do utilise medical equipment to perform these procedures, they need to be artistically fit to successfully complete them. For example women like the Kardashians are well known to be plastic surgery queens but still look natural, for the most part because their doctors had an eye for the arts.

Image result for human modifications Also in this week’s lecture, we learned about an artist named Orlan, who has had several surgeries in order to modify herself. Some of her surgical procedures I would consider art however, her horns makes me look at her in a different light. When you begin to modify your body and try to have non humanlike features, it isn’t art anymore. It is a game against nature. Yes, your body is a canvas and you should use it to your full potential. However, Orlan, like many others took it too far and were questioned because their surgeries went against nature. Some people do not mind going against nature and that really depends on their personal beliefs. I would say that medicine is an art with barriers.

Pictured below are some well known modified humans
Image result for man with hornsImage result for human modifications
Works Cited :
1. Eve Andree Laramee. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.
2. "17 Human Canvases Whose Body Modifications Are Basically Works of Art." (Slide #1) - Offbeat. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.
3. TheGuardian. "French artist Orlan: 'Narcissism is important'" YouTube. YouTube, 14 July 2009. Web. 01 May 2017.
4. "Meet The Man Behind The Mug: Jesse Thornhill." Oklahoma's Own News On 6. N.p., 23 July 2010. Web. 01 May 2017.
5. Becenstein. "Weird Sideshow Freaks - Cool Things World." Pinterest. N.p., 22 Mar. 2012. Web. 01 May 2017.
6. Vesna, Victoria. Medicine Body Lecture. Video. 26 Oct 2012.

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