Week 4 - MedTech + Art

 MedTech + Art

    The intersection between medicine and art is one that is not blatantly apparent as first, but becomes increasingly more visible looking at the technology behind medicine. One of the topics I found very interesting was the artistic representation of the science behind many medical techniques. For example, Professor Vesna discussed human dissections in this weeks lecture, which date all the way back to ancient times. While dissections are essential for understanding the human body, it would not be effective without the documentation of the findings. This is often done through artistic methods, whether it's with photography, diagrams, or drawings. It is important for scientists to examine what they see during dissections, but the way they communicate that information with the public is just as important. A prime way to do this effectively is by creating models and diagrams to depict the scientific information. Because raw scientific imaging can be difficult to understand and read, models are often used to make the findings explicit. These models and diagrams help multitude of people further understand the human body, including students who are interested in studying this field. This is why the connection between medicine and art is especially pertinent for me as a biology major. There have been countless medical concepts that I have only been able to understand through artistic imaging. Additionally, these records of human anatomy through artistic diagrams are extremely long lasting, which is important because it allows scientists to build off of what has been discovered in the past, as more research is done. 

                                                                        da Vinci Drawings

    The Body World exhibition mentioned in lecture is another excellent example of artistic representation aiding medical discoveries. This exhibition is an example of how the basics of human life are explained to the general public in an engaging way. 

                                                                    Body Worlds Exhibition

    Another relevant example of the intersection that I found interesting was the use of MRI machines. The artistic aspect of MRI's is made explicit in Silvia Casini's article "MRI configurations between Science and Art", when she explains that "MRI has a 'look' in the same way that the portrait has... it has the capacity of being performative, thus resisting its being regarded as a transparent window onto the self" (Casini 1). She is emphasizing the representation aspect of MRI machines. While it is used for scientific purposes, the heart of the technology, the picture it produces, is in fact a form of art. MRI scans are not only used for doctors to asses the condition of their patients and communicate that with the patient, but also to make new discoveries that could bring medicine to a new level. This makes the MRI machine an excellent example of how artistic representation is used to drive technological advancements. 

                                                                                MRI Scan

Sources

Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts.” Academia.edu, 2011, aberdeen.academia.edu/SilviaCasini.

Cooke, Alastair. “Leonardo Da Vinci's Groundbreaking Anatomical Sketches.” BBC Culture, BBC, 2014, www.bbc.com/culture/article/20130828-leonardo-da-vinci-the-anatomist.

Kedmey, Dan. “MRI Scans Detect Parkinson's Disease in It's Earliest Stages, Study Finds.” Time, Time, 11 June 2014, time.com/2860630/mri-scans-can-detect-early-onset-of-parkinsons-study-finds/.

NIH. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).” National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri.

Riley, Shantal. “Anatomy Professor Uses 500-Year-Old Da Vinci Drawings to Guide Cadaver Dissection.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 12 Nov. 2019, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/leonardo-da-vinci-anatomy-dissection/.

Sheredos, Benjamin. “Why Do Biologists Use so Many Diagrams?” Core.ac.uk, 2012, core.ac.uk/download/pdf/11923375.pdf.

Vesna, Victoria, director. Medicine pt3. YouTube, 22 Apr. 2012, youtu.be/FIX-9mXd3Y4.

“‘Body Worlds’ Opens a Window on ‘Inner Space.’” OnMilwaukee, 18 Jan. 2008, onmilwaukee.com/articles/bodyworlds.