Week 4 Blog Post: Medicine + Technology + Art

This week’s topic is Medicine + Technology + Art. After reviewing all the materials, I feel that the lecture part 3 interests me most, as the issues and events mentioned in this part are closely related to our daily life.

First, professor Vesna touches on plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is definitely one of the hottest topics in modern society. There are a lot of discussions on its long-term potential threats to the human body and the moral side of the change on human appearance. I grow up in China, and there is an old Chinese saying, “All the body parts, hairs and the skin are given by the parents. Do not dare to make changes or harms to them, as this will be a form of disobedience to the parents.” Personally, I have a quite traditional mindset on this issue, and I feel that anything which may lead to potential threat to the human body is not a good avenue to pursue external beauty. I believe that is not worthy to get a 5-year “perfect” face with a series of recovering / maintenance operations in exchange for long-term health.




"The before and after Michael Jackson"
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/FTX1jQY5wHw/URCBVvGWUGI/AAAAAAAAA48/-9OgZccYa8M/s1600/michael-jackson-plastic-surgery-before-and-after.jpg



Besides, Professor Vesna mentions the application of modern technology in medical experiments. The most noticeable example is the Cyborg projects initiated by Professor Kevin Warwick. As professor Vesna mentions, the silicon chip transponder in Cyborg 1.0 and the electrode array in Cyborg 2.0 are very great electronic inventions for Parkinson’s disease, blindness, arthritis and schizophrenia. Before watching the video clip, I thought that there is not much technological application on medical treatment, and most of the similar technology like robotics is still for exhibition purposes. I personally feel that Professor Warwick’s study is very interesting, and hopefully his further study will help more people in the future.



               "Cyborg 1.0"

http://www.kevinwarwick.com/images/manmachine.jpg

           "cyborg 2.0"

http://www.kevinwarwick.com/images/Losh-t.gif

The relationship among medicine, technology and art has been strengthened throughout the progress of modern technology. Hopefully in the future, the application of technology in medicine and art will provide the human beings something more than the artistic effect. It will be great if the application of modern technology, like Professor Warwick’s Cyborg Project, can help more needy people.

Work cited:


Vesna, Victoria. Unit 4 Lecture Medtech+Art. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>


"《孝经》开宗明义章第一 原文 译文_国学智慧." 《孝经》开宗明义章第一 原文 译文_国学智慧. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://www.sophia.net.cn/gu/folder12/2007118/2274.Html>.


Goudreau, Jenna. "Top 10 Hidden Dangers Of Cosmetic Surgery." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://www.forbes.com/2011/06/16/top-10-dangers-cosmetic-surgery_slide.html>.

"The HisTory of Michael Jackson's Face." The HisTory of Michael Jackson's Face. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson.html>.


"Kevin Warwick - Home Page." Kevin Warwick - Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://www.kevinwarwick.com/index.asp>.