Medicine+Technology+Art

This week Dr.Vesna talked about how important art is relative to the development of medicine and technological advancement. Whether it is in the past or in the present, anatomy and dissection has been greatly looked at as a collaboration of art and science. Artists who focus their work on the human body are great assets to researchers because their art illustrations can help researchers gain a better understanding how the human body works and document important facts in the process (Dr. Vesna, 2012). The art of the human body is also central for understanding how our identities are shaped in our society which includes gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity (MoMa, n.d.). During the 1960s and 1970s, most of the work produced by human body artists focused on depicting how western art perpetuated idealizations of the female form. These idealizations still affect us today in the way we think about how we look and how we should act in order to fit with social conventions. Art itself is a reflection of humanity (Ruggles, 2011).

Self portrait by John Coplans 

The Human Body in Art by Joanne Beaule Ruggles

We have been dissecting human bodies since the beginning of human history because dissection is an effective way of understanding the human body. The study of human anatomy has contributed to the development of modern medicine. Anatomical illustrations helped improve the medical community. Andreas Vesalius for example, is one of the most influential figures in the scientific world because of his passion for studying the human body.The anatomical images in his book De Humani Corpis Fabrica was the earliest presentation of human anatomy (Famous Scientists, n.d.). His work showed the complexity of the human body formation and influenced many other scholars and artist to take interest in the study of the human body which lead to further development in this field of study (British Library, n.d.). 

Muscle Man by Andreas Vesalius

1) "Investigating Identity." Moma. Web. <http://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/investigating-identity/the-body-in-art>.

2) MoMa Learning. John Coplans. Self Portrait. Digital Image .

3) Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine Pt 1: Human Body and Medical Technologies." UCOnline, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <https://youtu.be/Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.

4) Ruggles, Joanne Beaule. "Joanne Beaule Ruggles Captures the Human Body in Art."Figurative Artist. 25 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.figurativeartist.org/joanne-beaule-ruggles-captures-the-human-body-in-art/>.

5) Figurative Artist. Joann Beaule Ruggles. The Human Body in Art. Digital Image.

6) "Vesalius's Renaissance Anatomy Lessons." Learning Bodies of Knowledge. British Library. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.bl.uk/learning/artimages/bodies/vesalius/renaissance.html>.

7) Library British. Andreas Vesalius. Muscle Man. Digital Image.

8) "Andreas Vesalius: Contributions and Achievements:." Famous Scientists: The Art If Genius. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. <http://www.famousscientists.org/andreas-vesalius/>.