Week 4: MedTech and Art

 The human body can be seen as a work of art in-and-of-itself. Human bodies have been center pieces of so many famous paintings and statues, but some may see art on the inside of human bodies. Human dissection is at the heart of art and science. 

The Study of Human Anatomy and the Corpses of Vienna. (n.d.). JSTOR Daily. Retrieved from https://daily.jstor.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/the_study_of_human_anatomy_and_the_corpses_of_vienna_1050x700.jpg.

Andreas Vesalius is an author of one of the most influential books on the topic of anatomy which translated to "The Structure of the Human Body". Vesalius is often referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy. He is still helpful today in a sense that he was the first one to every correctly record the internal human anatomy.

De humani corporis fabrica (Of the Structure of the Human Body). (n.d.). The Metropolitan Museum. Retrieved from https://collectionapi.metmuseum.org/api/collection/v1/iiif/358129/1515955/main-image.

In the art exhibit "Body World: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies" created by Gunther von Hagens, plastination is used to preserve the bodies and body parts so they are able to be on display. Plastination is the act of water and fat being replaced by plastics so they do not decay. The bodies that are on display are to show the internal human body in action, meaning that the 'art' is humans doing actions that occur in everyday life, but with no skin. It is phenomenal because you do not really think about how many things help one's self doing small or large tasks, such as muscles and bones. This exhibit presents the beauty of the body that not many people get to ever actually see. 

Body Worlds' open a window on "inner space". (n.d.). OnMilwaukee. Retrieved from https://onmilwaukee.com/images/articles/bo/bodyworlds/bodyworlds_fullsize_story1.jpg.

Thinking further, an athletes body can be considered as an art form. Athletes train and fuel to be able to perform to the best of their abilities, and with that they start to visibly look differently than the average human, with their toned muscles and their lean bodies. All sports have their own 'body type' that usually relates to their given sport, such as ballerinas are small and lean while sumo wrestlers are big and strong.   


Body worlds - take an eye-opening journey under the skin! Körperwelten. (2022, February 2). Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://bodyworlds.com/

Florkin, M. (n.d.). Andreas Vesalius. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andreas-Vesalius

Phillips-Ewen, I. (2021, October 19). Timeless Beauty: Ancient greek athletes in art. DailyArt Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/ancient-greek-athletes-art/

The plastination technique – invented by dr. Gunther von Hagens! Körperwelten. (2018, December 19). Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://bodyworlds.com/plastination/plastination-technique/ 

UC Online, director. Human Body & Medical Technologies Lecture Part 1.                    2012, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/129896/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=4852512. Accessed 2022.

Comments

  1. Danielie RamirezApril 24, 2022 at 11:33 AM

    I thoroughly enjoyed reading your input on the relationship between medical technology and art. I particularly found interest in your commentary on bodies as the centerpieces of famous paintings. Your choice of highlighting “The Study of Human Anatomy and the Corpses of Vienna” perfectly captivates the relationship between the two disciplines. I recommend that you also take a look at Rembrandt’s “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp.”

    ReplyDelete
  2. Quinn Winter Desma 9April 24, 2022 at 9:55 PM

    Hi Hannah, I think your blog post this week touched on some really great key points. The example you gave about the art exhibit "Body World: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies" is a great portrayal of bodies as art. This act of plastination allows for the internal body to be observed and admired as a form of art, which the human body is seen as in so many different ways. The athlete example was really interesting to me and a great point to acknowledge, and that this creation of different body types can be so admired. Great post!

    ReplyDelete

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