BioTech + Art

This week’s topic is BioTech and Art. It is one of the hottest topics in the 21^st century. However, it may also be the most controversial topic we have discussed so far.

I was a little bit scared by the example of Stelarc’s third ear mentioned in Professor Vesna’s lecture.  Sterlarc’s work focuses on exploring the capabilities of human body.  Therefore, in 2007, Stelarc decided to do a surgery and had a cell-cultivated ear surgically inserted into his left arm. Another example which draws my attention is Gesset’s “Genetic Folk Art.” He hybridized Irises in order to satisfy people’s visual preference. I was really impressed by their great imagination. However, I still cannot agree with these ideas. Their projects are unethical and can be considered as examples of overuse of biotech. In my opinion, art is supposed to let people see the beauty of nature and human beings. Furthermore, Biotech should be used in a more acceptable way to make contributions to society.

Stelarcs's third ear

http://streetanatomy.com/2012/06/27/stelarcs-third-ear/

In fact, overuse of biotech can result in severe consequences. For example, in Mary Shelley’s Novel Frankenstein, a monster with its own feeling is created by human beings, and people fail to control the monster they create. This story simply tells people that they should be more careful when using biotechnology. If people still use high technology with ought any consideration, this kind of story will become real in the future. And it will become a disaster for human beings. 

http://www.filmsquish.com/guts/?q=node/3876

There are some good examples of using biotech as well. For example, Osamu Shimomura, who was awarded for Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008, discovered the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and made great contribution to cancer study. According to his research, chemical reactions within living organisms will give off light, which will help track the spreading of cancer. This technology is further used to make artwork. The famous “"glowing" rabbit” Alba is made based on this technology. This can be considered a very good example of the combination of art and biotech. The scientist started the project in order to help the medical research. Meanwhile, it meets people’s pursue of art and beauty.

https://news.uns.purdue.edu/html3month/2005/051004.Alstatt.bunny.html

Based on the examples above, people can see that biotech and art can be very helpful to society and human beings. However, people should be careful using this technology and pay more attention to the ethical meanings. Creativity and imagination are important for artists. However, they should focus more on art itself instead of doing some pure crazy thing for no real meanings.

 Works Cited

 “Alba” Wikipideia. 2 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Nov.2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alba_(rabbit)

“Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008.”  Nobel Prize. 2008. Web. 10 Nov.2013

< http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/nobelguide_che.pdf>

“Performer gets third ear for art.” BBC News. 11 Oct.2007. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

< http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7039821.stm>

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition. ed. J. Paul Hunter. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996. Print.

Vesna, Victoria. "BioTech+Art " Lecture. YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&v=z7zHIdsFS3A>.