Medical Technologies and Art

 Medical Technologies and Art

A personal experience with medical technology I can recall is when I received an x-ray and MRI scan for an ankle injury. Although I was sure I had injured myself badly enough to receive medical attention, I received an x-ray that showed no diagnosis. Later, an MRI scan was done that showed my torn achilles tendon, which was not visible in the previous medical scans performed. My experience with medical technologies shows how significant the development and use of medical technologies, such as MRI, CAT Scan, and X-rays.

On the medical side, the introduction of medical technology and non-invasive imaging techniques has allowed for a further understanding of the human body anatomy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an essential development in medical technology, allowing for all soft tissues to be visible and precise diagnosis. In the case of my injury, I would not have received the correct diagnosis or treatment without this technology. MRI has allowed for medical specialists to gain more knowledge of the human body, furthering their understanding of certain diseases and injuries. 

The use of MRI not only impacts medical specialists, but artists as well. On the artist side, the incorporation of medical imaging has both educated and inspired creators as they look to enhance and innovate their artwork. Having an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the human anatomy in all depths can be pivotal for artists when accurately portraying and representing human bodies.

Many also see MRI imaging alone as a piece of artwork. In the essay from Cassini, she connects how brain imaging is seen in the art context "The appeal of brain imaging as a technique of self-portrait is powerful for an audience outside the medical field because, in essence, information is conveyed through images, for example, through MRI scans" (Cassini 75).
An example of the use of medical technology in artwork would be “Body Code”. The work “Body Code” comprises a set of medical animations made with the purpose of museum and art gallery exposure. The animations showcase bodily autonomy on a molecular scale and are intended to be seen as art, rather than a medical purpose. Unexpectedly, the creators' focus for these animations is to reach audiences with limited scientific or medical knowledge and educate them with the assistance of medical imaging.
The integration of medical technologies in society have significantly impacted both the healthcare and artistic communities, allowing for doctors to better treat and diagnose their patients, and for artists to explore new human perspectives and incorporate medical science accurately in their work.
Sources

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 1.” Bruinlearn. https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/183769/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=6671243. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 2.” Bruinlearn. https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/183769/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=6671243. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.


Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 3.” Bruinlearn. https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/183769/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=6671243. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.


Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 4.” Bruinlearn. https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/183769/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=6671243. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as mirror and portrait: MRI configurations between science and the Arts.” Configurations, vol. 19, no. 1, Dec. 2011, pp. 73–99, https://doi.org/10.1353/con.2011.0008. 

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Comments

  1. Eric MusgraveApril 28, 2024 at 1:32 PM

    Hello Abygayle, I enjoyed your blog a lot. I too have experience with having an MRI done on me when I went to the hospital. Through the MRI, the doctors found that I had a pneumomediastinum. I agree that it is important that these medical technologies continue to advance to ensure the security of everyone. Lastly, I appreciate the connection you made between medicine and art and I too was fascinated by the quote you got from the Cassini reading. Seeing the MRI as the "true" self-portrait was an interesting concept I had not thought about before.

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