Week 4: MedTech + Art

As someone interested in the healthcare field, I volunteer frequently in the hospital and am constantly surrounded by medical technology. Even so, the overlap between MedTech and art never occurred to me. Professor Vesna talked about how anatomy, surgery, and different scans (MRI, x-ray, and CT) are all forms of art (Vesna 2012). Casini even compares an MRI to a portrait of oneself – “I argue that MRI has a ‘look’ in the same way that the portrait has— that is, it has the capacity of being performative, thus resisting its being regarded as a transparent window onto the self” (Casini 2011). A very clear combination of MedTech and art is Diane Gromala’s use of virtual reality, biofeedback, and mindful medication to relieve chronic pain (Gromala 2011). After learning more about the intersection of art and MedTech, I started to realize how prevalent it is in our world today.

An MRI Machine 

(Ferro 2013)

Virtual reality goggles that can be used to relieve chronic pain

(Buro 2015)

Growing up in a suburb of Chicago, I visited the Museum of Science and Industry on field trips. I remember being fascinated that the bodies displayed at Body Worlds were of preserved specimens (Institute for Plastination 2016). I was surprised to learn during lecture this week that this plastination technique was developed in 1977 (Vesna 2012). The exhibit is a perfect example of how MedTech and art intersect, as the use of plastination can help us understand the human body and even educate young minds.

Body Worlds Exhibit

(Kidd 2014)

Furthermore, when visiting New York, I saw graffiti art that represented an EKG reading. This example shows that not only can art influence MedTech, but also that MedTech can influence art. A metaphor has been made about this popular symbol, saying the artwork by EKG (the artist’s pseudonym) brings life to New York City.

EKG's Street Art

(Sparks 2013)

An EKG Machine

(Datex 2016)

Lastly, the admissions process into medical school exemplifies the intersection of art and MedTech. Many medical schools are now valuing applicants with a humanities background because it “emphasiz[es] more ‘right brain’ characteristics.” Furthermore, “It seems that students with more ‘right brain’ qualities–related to imagery, visual and drawing skills–have begun to emerge as more successful in today’s digital, image-based world of medicine.” Because medicine is becoming more image-based, as image technology such as the MRI and x-rays are evolving, medical schools are looking for people that will contribute to this developing world. This shows how art is connected to MedTech and is even recognized by the people who choose our future doctors. 

Even medical school admission teams realize the intersection of art and MedTech

(Doyle 2015)

Citations

Buro. "Qantas and Samsung to Offer In-flight Virtual Reality Experience." News, Fashion, Culture, Lifestyle. 1 Feb. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.buro247.me/lifestyle/technology/qantas-and-samsung-virtual-reality.html>.

Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations Between Science and Arts.” 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

Datex. "Datex Ohmeda EKG MachineIN STOCK." Datex Ohmeda EKG Machine by Datex Ohmeda. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.ekgmachinesforsale.com/datex-ohmeda-ekg.html>.

Doyle, Jimmy. "Five Questions to Ask during Your next Visit to the Doctor's Office." WorldCare. 25 Nov. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.worldcare.com/five-questions-ask-next-visit-doctors-office/>. 

Ferro, Shaunacy. "GE's Silent MRI Scanner Has Hit The Market." Popular Science. 12 Sept. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-09/silent-mri>. 

Glatter, Robert. "Can Studying Art Help Medical Students Become Better Doctors?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 20 Oct. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2013/10/20/can-studying-art-help-medical-students-become-better-doctors/#12ce20551b3f>. 

Gromala, Diane, perf. Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty. 2011. Video. 24 Apr 2016. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cRdarMz–Pw>.

Institute for Plastintination. "Original & Copycat." Exhibitions. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.bodyworlds.com/en/exhibitions/original_copycat.html>. 

Kidd, Cassandra. "We Are All Human: ‘Body Worlds’ Comes to Milwaukee." Marquette Wire. 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://marquettewire.org/3858050/journal/we-are-all-human-body-worlds-comes-to-milwaukee/>. 

Sparks, Heather. "Taking the Pulse of the City With Graffiti Artist EKG - Facts So Romantic - Nautilus." Nautilus. 1 Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://nautil.us/blog/taking-the-pulse-of-the-city-with-graffiti-artist-ekg>.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. Medicine . Youtube, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.