 |
|
The topic for this week was the relationship between art and medicine. This concept was by far the most surprising to me. I would have never made the connection between the two fields since they seem so vastly different. For me, art was always about expression and not so much a physical connection to a human but after this week, I can see how even medicine is intertwined with art in various forms. The bond between art and medicine is a lot more deeply rooted than what I would have ever imagined and I am especially surprised that I never made the connection between the two since their history goes as far back as the 2th century. The first mention of medicine and art is in the Hippocratic Oath of the 12th century that doctors swore by when entering the medical field. In the document, medicine is referred to as an art form. Although the modern day Hippocratic Oath differs from the original to accommodate the new laws and advancement of medicine, the document still refers to the practice of medicine as an art form. I could see how in the 12th century, medicine could be seen as an art form, since I can imagine the skill needed to perform certain procedures must have required a skill that not all could possibly posses. Even today, this holds true. Not everyone can be a doctor.
 |
|
Advancement in technology in medicine has provided a different meaning to the form of art and medicine as one. Today, it is a lot easier to see the connection between art and medicine because of cosmetic procedures. Although cosmetic procedures had their beginnings during the world war, modern day plastic surgery is very prevalent because it is related to celebrities and garners media attention. Medicine has gone beyond the art of skilled surgery and "artist-like" precision, it is not about transforming or molding a face into something more beautiful or refined. It truly is like 3D art. While I am not against cosmetic surgeries, I do believe that the ever-changing relationship between medicine and art can create identity issues with people. If we consider the doctor an artist, does this make the person who had the procedures done a work of art? By defining someone as a product of an artist are we stealing or defining an identity?
 |
|
I believe that as medicine continues to advance, the "art" associated with medicine will contribute to identity issues and perhaps even the objectification of those who choose to have procedures done. This is especially true for women, who are constantly bombarded with images of women who have undergone cosmetic procedures. This is the new ideal to live up to, a sort of frankenstein child of art and medicine.
Image Sources:
http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/assets/img/hippocratic-oath-today/image-03-large.jpg
http://www.bernardhealth.com/Portals/131307/images/Plastic_Sugery.jpg
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/fergregory/fergregory1105/fergregory110500164/9567527-identity-issues-photo-concept.jpg
Sources:
Berberick, Stephanie N. "The Objectification of Women in Mass Media: Female Self-Image in Misogynist Culture." New York Sociologist 5 (2010): n. pag. Web.
Hyer, Christopher F. "Cath Lab Digest." When The Science Of Surgery Becomes An Art. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct. 2013.
Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath Today." PBS. PBS, 27 Mar. 2001. Web. Oct. 2013.
Vesna, Victoria, perf Medicine, Part 1. UC Online Program,. 2013. Web. Oct 2013.
Vesna, Victoria, perf Medicine, Part 2. UC Online Program,. 2013. Web. Oct 2013.
I support your point that medicine is actually an art since it requires certain skills that only a few people around us poses. Just like you, I had no prior knowledge of how art and medicine are connected but going through this week’s readings and lectures showed how the two are closely related and how they both have an influence over the other. I am of the opinion that medicine is an art that requires scientific knowledge since doctors require specialized skills and at the same time they must have basic scientific facts at their fingertips.
ReplyDelete