Unit 4 | Medicine and Art

Contrary to popular belief, art was one of the main influences that helped with early advancements in medicine. During the Renaissance, the art of anatomy and dissection was used in order to have a complex understanding of the human physique, including specific muscle groups and how the body acted when they were contracted, as well as more accurate facial structure. This inevitably led to the understanding of the human body as a whole resulted in an evolution in our understanding of medicine. One prominent figure in both of these fields is Andreas Vesalius, a Renaissance period artist and father of modern anatomy. In Professor Vesna’s video lecture, “Medicine Pt. 1,” we learn how he used his artistic eye to catch and detail each muscle he saw on the body he was examining. His most famous reference, “Prima musculorum tabula,” was used by many Renaissance artists, and became a staple for scientific analysis. This book mixing art and science was unofficially adapted to a modern version in the mid-19th century. In “Medicine Pt. 2,” we learn of how “Gray’s Anatomy” slowly took the form of Vesalius’ “Prima musculorum tabula.” Just like how the “Prima musculorum tabula” was a staple for all artists and slowly transitioned to medicine as well, the exact opposite process could be said for “Gray’s Anatomy.” Once a staple in the hands of a medical student or professional, the book has also seen extensive use in the art community. This book not only detailed specific analysis of human anatomy, but was a more in-depth look into each individual part. This book in the art world represents an important transition for art and the human body.

“Prima musculorum tabula" “Gray’s Anatomy”

In “Medicine Pt. 2,” and “Medicine Pt. 3,” Professor Vesna helps us understand how these interests in the body with artists sparked a new way to express oneself; technological advances help facilitate this. X-rays, CT scans, MRIs were all able to help us see inside the human body without any incisions. Art pieces like the cross sections of the body in many different slices could not be done without this. Knowing that their own bodies could be used as a medium of expression with these scans marks another transition with art and medicine. Plastic surgery art by ORLAN pushes this transition to its limits by altering her physical appearance to match the standards of beauty in different pieces of art, one of which includes the Mona Lisa. Another example comes “TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty,” and how Diane Gromala used virtual reality to help those with chronic pain take their attention away from it by focusing on scans of the human body. Another similar to this comes from 

ORLAN

Vesna. “Medicine pt1.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk&ab_channel=UCOnline. 

Vesna. “Medicine pt2.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ&ab_channel=UCOnline. 

Vesna. “Medicine pt3.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4&ab_channel=UCOnline. 

TEDxTalks. “TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Dec. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdarMz--Pw&ab_channel=TEDxTalks. 

MutleeIsTheAntiGod. “Orlan - Carnal Art (2001) Documentary.” YouTube, YouTube, 13 Mar. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=no_66MGu0Oo&ab_channel=MutleeIsTheAntiGod.