Unit 4 - "Medicine + Technology + Art"

This week’s topic dealt with the effects of medicine and technology on art.  Art has played a major role on medicine and technology.  In 1895, Wilhem Conrad Rontgen was credited with discovering a form of electromagnetic radiation known as X-radiation.  In his first X-ray experiment, Rontgen took an image of his wife’s hand.  This image highlighted his wife’s bone structure as well as her wedding ring.

 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_Z-1.html 

  

Upon its discovery, scientists were unaware of the effects of X-rays or the power behind its applications.  In his article X-rays as Evidence in German Orthopedic Surgery, 1895-1900, Andrew Warwick stated, “X-rays were regarded for some years largely as a novelty offering little beyond traditional diagnostic techniques such as palpation” (2)*.  World War I began in 1914.  The use of chemical weapons and new technologies for chemical warfare produced gruesome injuries on the battlefield.  Scientists and doctors began to use the technology of X-rays to better understand the internal damage to wounded soldiers.  This improvement in technology also improved the medical treatment needed to care for the wounded.

http://archive.mdhs.org/library/Z24WWOne.html

We learned from Professor Vesna in lecture that, “medicine was considered art and if you used tools or technology, you were not really considered a doctor”.  It's interesting that the use of technology by professionals in medicine would have been seen as an impediment to an accurate diagnosis.  We learned in Week 3 that the fear of machinery was heavily influenced by the Industrial Revolution.  This fear seems to have influenced the medical industry as well.

The application of technology and medicine can be seen in the world of sports.  In the summer of 2012, Oscar Pistorius became the first double leg amputee to participate in the Olympics.  As a Para-Olympian in 2012, Pistorius won multiple metals, including gold.  Pistorius runs with carbon fiber bladed prosthetics handcrafted by Nike Engineers.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe5zSLkmwXU 

The merger of medicine, technology, and art has also played its way into Hollywood.  There is a remake of the classic movie, Robocop, which highlights the use of medicine and technology.  The main character is saved by doctors with the use of new technologies.  After multiple surgeries, the main character wakes up to find that he is half man, half machine.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn5uPdOWmZw 

*According to Wikipedia, “Palpation is used as part of a physical examination in which an object is felt (usually with the hands of a healthcare practitioner) to determine its size, shape, firmness, or location”.

SOURCES:

“Dream Anatomy: Gallery: The First X-ray”. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_Z-1.html>.

Warwick, Andrew. “X-rays as Evidence in German Orthopedic Surgery, 1895-1900”. The History of Science Society, 2005. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <www.dahsm.medschool.ucsf.edu/history>.

“Palpation”. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palpation>

“MSH – Z24 Images – World War I”. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://archive.mdhs.org/library/Z24WWOne.html>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 2. Human Body & Medical Technologies part 2.” Cole UC online. YouTube, 9 April 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. < https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/63226/wiki/unit-4-view?module_item_id=970434>.

“Oscar Pistorius Gold Medal Winner World Record 200 Metres 1^st September 2012”. YouTube, 2 Sept. 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe5zSLkmwXU>.

“Robocop Official Trailer”. YouTube. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn5uPdOWmZw>.