Week 4: Medicine and Art

In this blogpost, I would like to focus on the topic of plastic surgery. In her lecture, Victoria Vesna talked about the history of plastic surgery. She mentioned how plastic surgery was used after World War I to repair faces. An example of that is seen today with the facial reconstruction (and one of the first face transplants) of Patrick Hardison, a fire fighter who was severely burned. His face has been completely reconstructed, showing the breadth of medical technology and innovation.

Vesna also introduced us to ORLAN. ORLAN is an artist who considers her body to be a medium, like a readymade in some ways. She has undergone many plastic surgeries as performance art. In her documentary ‘Carnal Art’ she states: ‘My work is a critique on beauty and how cosmetic surgery is usually used’. She states that she also sees similarities between Catholic/ Church art and plastic surgery, the surgeon being a minister and the light shining on her face similar to the light shining on saints. 


Another artist whose work is critical of plastic surgery is Lauren Greenfield. Her photographs document our society’s obsession with wealth. She photographs people having plastic surgery and going through treatment afterwards. Her subject matter is derogatory and does not look at plastic surgery in a positive light, but as more of a last ditch effort to meet society’s beauty standards. 

Another example of plastic surgery in art, but in a less mainstream environment, is implants as body modification. People can get implants of horns, spikes, braille and even items such as ice cream cones. 




Pictures

Greenfield, Lauren. Lindsey, 18, at a 1993 July 4th party in Calabasas, Calif., three days after her nose job. Digital image. Bloomberg Pursuits. Bloomberg, 19 Apr. 2017. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-19/a-look-at-the-ugly-side-of-getting-rich>.

Orlan during surgery. Digital image. English114EM: Women Writers, 1650-1760. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://oldsite.english.ucsb.edu/faculty/ecook/courses/eng114em/surgeries.htm>.

Patrick Hardison before and after facial transplant. Digital image. NYU Langone. NYU Langone Medical Center, 24 Aug. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://nyulangone.org/press-releases/one-year-later-heroic-firefighter-who-underwent-most-extensive-face-transplant-is-thriving>.

Woman with horn implants. Digital image. Oddee. Oddee, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://www.oddee.com/item_97551.aspx>.



References

Carnal Art. Dir. Stéphan Oriach. Perf. ORLAN. Myriapodus Films, 2001. Youtube.com. YouTube, 13 Mar. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no_66MGu0Oo&feature=youtu.be>.

Greenfield, Lauren. Lauren Greenfield Photography. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://laurengreenfield.com/index.php?p=WH1R2TXV>.

Medicine Pt3. Dir. Victoria Vesna. Perf. Victoria Vesna. Medicine Pt3. Uconline, 22 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4&feature=youtu.be>.

Murano, Grace. "12 Most Bizarre Body Implants." Oddee. Oddee, 23 Feb. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://www.oddee.com/item_97551.aspx>.

"One Year Later, Heroic Firefighter Who Underwent Most Extensive Face Transplant Is Thriving." NYU Langone. NYU Langone Medical Center, 24 Aug. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://nyulangone.org/press-releases/one-year-later-heroic-firefighter-who-underwent-most-extensive-face-transplant-is-thriving>.

Rose, Barbara. "ORLAN: IS IT ART? ORLAN AND THE TRANSGRESSIVE ACT." Stanford University. Stanford University, Feb. 1993. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <https://web.stanford.edu/class/history34q/readings/Orlan/Orlan2.html>.



Comments

  1. UnknownMay 3, 2017 at 10:49 PM

    I really liked your in-depth explanation of how plastic surgery can be considered an art. The visual of how victim's faces have been changed through plastic surgery was shocking to see. I also liked how you found a quote from Orlan herself about why she does what she does. I am really interested in the concept of the body modifications you explained such as insertion of horns, and also kind of confused what you mean when you say implants of "ice cream cones". Really fascinating!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMay 3, 2017 at 11:54 PM

    I loved that you spoke about the firefighter who received reconstructive plastic surgery. I feel that it really is a good example of how and exactly where the medicine world and the art world meet each other. Your blog also highlights both the good and bad things about plastic surgery and I really enjoyed that !!

    ReplyDelete

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