Many of you many be familiar with the exhibit, "Our Body: The Universe Within." If you are not here is a link to the website http://www.ourbodytheuniversewithin.com/. There are also many videos on YouTube that allow you to tour the exhibit. You might want to take a look at these.
Now, here are two of these clips showing the exhibit:
This is from the Pittsburgh Tribune: "Famous forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht narrates a tour of the amazing "Bodies" exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center Sportsworks in Pittsburgh." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kJmypE1DGQ&NR=1
Here is a news blip from Orlando: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VUpjePNV6U
Let's have a conversation about this explicit and often hotly contested exhibit.
While we talk about this I would like to ask is this art? what is art? is this science? can art and science join? What are our expectations if we label this exhibit art? if we label it science? are there other issues that come up? ethical? religious? educational?
Also, as we discuss take a look at this artist's presentation of the dead body: http://www.masters-of-fine-art-photography.com/02/artphotogallery/photographers/joel_peter_witkin_01.html.
This is the work of Joel Peter-Witkin. These images are modeled after traditional still life's that really became most popular during the 17th century in Europe. If you google "still life painting" you will be able to discover more about what Peter-Witken is doing in his art work. What is he saying? Why am I juxtaposing his work with the "Our Bodies" exhibit? What about bodies and art? Is this ok?
BTW: as usual you will receive credit for you first 250 wrd post and then your 150 wrd response. However, for each additional response of 100-150 wrds. you will receive extra credit for your participation and journal grade.
I would believe this to be art because anything can be art. Arranged garbage on a plate is considered art or a picture of a tree is art. Art is all around us. Dictionary. com considers knowledge or study of something as science. I’m not sure if this exhibit is considered science though, unless people are going to study these bodies. Art and science can join. When you go to an art exhibit you walk around and look at the art while forming an opinion. I would expect the same at this exhibit. I do believe there are issues that arise ethical, religious and educational. Whether this is ethical or not depends on how these bodies came to be on display. Did these people donate their bodies to science? I don’t believe they had this in mind if they donated their bodies to science but, they did and I’m sure someone believes this is science if that is where they had the bodies from. There was an exhibit near me that used john doe bodies, a lot of people had a problem with that because those people definitely did not sign up for the exhibit. That is a problem because it might be against their beliefs. Some religions have certain ceremonies for the dead while others have specific ways of disposing of the body. The exhibit may ethically be wrong by using these bodies if they are not following what the person’s wishes would be. Someone could argue that it is educational to look at these bodies and possibly learn something. I personally wouldn’t.
ReplyDeleteBack in Tampa there was the bodies exhibit at the Mosi center. I went there twice, once with my parents and the other with my biology class. All the bodies were once alive and they all donated their bodies to science. I believe that people may look at the exhibit and look at it as art and then some people will see it as science. I went there to look at the science part of it. There are some ethical issues that are involved with the exhibit. There is a section where you can see the different stages of a pregnancy and see what the baby looks like. And it asks you what do you consider to be alive? That’s a very controversial topic for many people. I believe that art and science can join. The bodies exhibit is art along with learning about the human body. Joel Peter-Witkin took a lot of still life pictures of out of the norm people. When I opened up the website where his pictures were I was very surprised. I was not expecting to see a naked woman with male body parts. I can see where this would be very controversial and also weird. I don’t think science and art should come together. They are both very controversial and putting them together just makes things worse but yet it does make us think harder. I believe that the bodies exhibit and painting is very different. The bodies exhibit is supposed to be for science while the painting are supposed to be for art. Both are very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAllison,
ReplyDeleteI believe that the exhibit is for science. I don’t know if you have ever gone to it but is all for science. It gives people the opportunity to learn what our bodies look like from the inside. We all see pictures but never the real thing. Each body was donated for science. I don’t think that they would have used the bodies for exhibit if it wasn’t for science. I agree that there will probably be some issues with the idea but when are there not issues with science? I also agree about what you said with the everything can be art. I like how you used garbage on top of a plate. There is some weird art out there but I think it is up to each individual to determine if something is art or not.
I think that the “Our Body: The Universe Within” exhibit is art. Although the bodies are put out on display with nothing on, not even their skin, I feel that it’s something that everyone should have the ability to see. The bodies were donated and unclaimed and would just be cremated if not used. This is all the more reason that they should be put out on display to educate people about how our bodies work and function. Also, the way that the bodies are put out in the exhibit is in an artful way. One body may be kicking a soccer ball and another may be riding on a bicycle. The whole idea of putting the bodies out in this way is not meant to offend or disgust people. It is merely meant to open people’s eyes to what we humans are. By putting this exhibit out for the public, it also allows them to see the science in the human body. The displays shoe the heart, capillaries, lungs, and other major organs. Many of us have seen pictures of the inside the body on the Internet, but many have not seen it in person. Of course there are going to be people that say the bodies deserve a proper burial and that this exhibit is not ethical, however I myself feel that this is an educational art form that should be put out there for everyone. This type of art is no different or more offensive in my eyes than say seeing a picture of a naked body in a museum. I have never had the opportunity to see “Our Body: The Universe Within,” but I think if I have the chance in the future that I will definitely go.
ReplyDeleteBre-
ReplyDeleteI do agree that there are various controversial issues that arise when you combine art with science. Yet, I feel that by combining the two, this is when most people will benefit and gain some type of education. To me, the “Our Bodies” exhibit IS art and science put together. The way that the bodies are displayed is very artful. They are posed and stood in different ways, and many times on different objects, such as bicycles. By putting these bodies on display in this manner, it also sparks a scientific side. Even though I disagree with you on the “Our Bodies” exhibit, I would have to say that you’re totally right about the pictures on the website. They were definitely a surprise, and weirded me out a little bit too. I would have to say that you’re right when you say those pictures were purely art. I don’t see how there was really anything scientific about them.
For me personally, I don't really classify the bodies exhibit as art. I have seen it in real life and I thought it was more for educational purposes and I went also just to see what all the hype was about! Looking at the human bodies, I was just thinking, wow! this is what happens inside my body and like looking at it was amazing. So i thought it was more of an educational tool more than art. Saying that, I classify art as something different than maybe someone else. So I think its in the eye of the beholder. I don't think that anything can really be classified as something permanently. I think art and science can join too -- DaVinci's sketches!
ReplyDeleteI think if we label it as art, then we have to expect to be entertained by it and gain something from it and get pleasure out of it. I dont personally get pleasure from looking at the body exhibit. its more of a gaining new knowledge on something that i was unaware of what happened before.
I dont really get what all the controversy is about.. like these people didnt say DONT turn my body into an exhibit to better man kind and make leaps and andvances in science... they are literally opening a door to a world that was restricted and guarded by brains in labcoats. Now with this exhibit it can be seen my anyone who pays and they can be prepared to truly be amazed.
Oh and to add on to what i just said, I think you juxtaposed Witkin's work with that, because in a sense they are the same thing, and one is considered art, where as one isnt traditionally considered art. Witkin's work is also a bunch of dead bodies, which the way they are set up are more looked at as a work of art in the "lets not think outside the box" but still thinking outside the box, because at a first glance it just looks like a normal still life, and he is very talented at photography, but with closer look its like IS THAT REAL!? and i think its more thought provoking for me personally than the bodies, because there is an extra layer to look at, where as the bodies is what you see is what you get kind of exhibit.
ReplyDeleteRyan,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you 100% on what would happen to the bodies had they not been used for the exhibit. So instead of "wasting" them by just cremating them, why not use them for the good of scientific advancements? I think that the display shows so many intersting aspects that were not usually able to be seen in actual real life. Instead it was just presented to the general public through photos or an educational DVD. its a whole different experience to see it right in front of you. This is why it is for a better use than to give them a burial and respect them, Im sure many of them were not that selfish and would appreciate them informing others
Ryan, I agree that the “Our Body: The Universe within” is an art exhibit. I think that if people want to see the exhibit they should have the ability. Although I definitely do not agree that if the bodies are found they should be used in the exhibit. Just for the reason that it might be an issue. Those people may not have wanted to be displayed to thousands of people. It may have offended them. I think there is a difference between the exhibit which I believe is more educational than scientific and what someone believed their body was going to be used for scientifically. The person may have thought their body would be used for research. Though they did donate their body they can’t necessarily specify what science it is used for. The people that were unclaimed shouldn’t be used just because nobody claimed them. That is not their fault no one could identify them. Their body shouldn’t be used just for the sake that they would be cremated anyways. I just have mixed feelings, I think that it is helpful from an education perspective I just believe the people running it should make sure it is definitely ok to use the bodies. I agree I liked how they did display the bodies in a way that shows something a person would be doing.
ReplyDeleteDennis, I agree with you about the fact that the exhibit seems more educational than art. I also did not get much pleasure looking at the bodies but just merely knowledge. I also agree with you about the fact of what is all the hype about when it comes to the bodies being exposed. These people donated their bodies for science and that’s what happened to them. They are now exposed, literally, for everyone to see and gain knowledge through. Also when it came to the photos I too was like is that real? The bodies exhibit is what you get. But yet I have to say that I was like are you sure these bodies were once real? This past year’s exhibit contained a camel… I think and it had a baby inside. I was like there is no way this thing was real but apparently I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteI actually visited the Body Exhibit two years ago during my sophomore year of high school. My sports medicine teacher thought it would be interesting to take us down there so we could get a visual of the human body’s bones, and muscles. I didn’t really care about going but because I got to miss a day of school, I figured I would go. When we got down there I was a little freaked out and couldn’t believe there were dead bodies hanging all around a building. At one point these bodies were someone’s mom, dad, brother, or sister. As we kept moving through the exhibit I got more used to the bodies but wasn’t really interested in reading the material around the bodies themselves. As I read these questions now and look back on the fieldtrip I see the body exhibit a different way. I do consider this art in a way. Art is a way of expressing yourself, it can be anything from a little kid’s finger painting to Picasso’s artwork. The body is beautiful and the way it was created is so complicated but incredible. I also think its science though and do believe that science and art can join. Even though I wasn’t very interested, I learned a few things and so others around me. Your anatomy makes up your body, anatomy is a science, therefore the body exhibit is science. It’s a visual way of showing you how your body is made up, how things come together, and how people of different parts of the world different from those who live in the US.
ReplyDelete- Sarah Bingham
I have been to this exhibit twice and both were for fieldtrips through my medical class. Through different displays you are able to see the human body and what it is made out of. You can see in detail how your organs look. In one exhibit for example, they just showed a bodies CNS and nothing else. Others include showing how your muscles work by positioning a body as if they were playing a sport. I saw an exhibit that showed the stages of a fetus in formaldehyde filled jars. There’s no question that this exhibit is an amazing scientific demonstration because you are able to see the human body the way no one’s been able to before and understanding the body is the key to medical breakthroughs. This display is art as well. It is a form of sculpture. It is an interpretation of the body through an artist’s eye and then created. Leonardo DiVinci was famous for having drawings of the inner body and particularly the inside of a womb.
ReplyDeleteThere have been many controversies surrounding this exhibit. The main uproar is due because of the unknown origin of the bodies themselves. The public is unaware if these people consented to have their bodies put on display after their death or if they are the bodies of prisoners. Of course that draws up issues. It would be wrong to use the bodies of people for science unless they consented, cruel even. Hopefully this exhibit has done it the right way because it was one of the most fascinating things I have ever seen in my life.
I think by saying it’s would be a waste of a body if it wasn’t put towards the exhibit is a huge overstatement. Bodies get cremated all the time, put it the dirt too. If everyone who died was put in the exhibit there’d be more dead plasticized bodies than alive normal ones. It’s a great exhibit and I definitely agree it’s advancement for scientific research. That doesn’t mean if someone I knew died I would give their body to the exhibit so as not to “waste” it. Plus many religions don’t allow for anyone to touch a loved one’s body as I might interfere with their standing in the afterlife. So I would say most people would have their bodies be “wasted” no matter how educational their body might be.
ReplyDeleteBre-
ReplyDeleteI also got to visit the exhibit as well and did not enjoy it that much either. But I would have to agree with you and Ryan when you both said there are going to controversial issues when combining science with art. But there is controversy all around the world. Everyone has their own opinion and I have come to see that people get offended very easily. Every where you look people are stirring up controversy and creating issues because they’re “offended.” If everyone cared, the world wouldn’t be the way it was today; we wouldn’t have experienced or learned as much as we have. One’s opinion and the way you feel is an art and it’s the way you express yourself. You never know, maybe that’s how Joel Peterwitkin expresses himself. We all have our different ways of expressing ourselves and it’s cool to know that’s what makes up this diverse world we live in.
-Sarah
I believe the exhibit, “Our body: The Universe Within”, can certainly be classified as art. To me, art can really be anything. Art can be something simple just to look at, it can be something with a hidden meaning, or it can be something representative…art is very broad. In this case, the bodies are molded into certain positions to provoke certain thoughts from the viewers. Because their goal is to deepen the understanding of the human body and learn more about our own individual bodies, the display can just as easily be classified as science. While on the website I found explanation after explanation of different body systems: muscular system, nervous system, circulatory system, etc. It’s clear that science is the main focus of their artwork. It even begins to say that they’re trying to demonstrate how the body has evolved since later times. Not only is their purpose very science based, but the preservation of the bodies themselves are perfect examples as well. The bodies are preserved through a method called “polymer impregnation.” This is still a fairly new breakthrough in medicine. The method consists of draining of all bodily fluids and replacing them with fluids, allowing the body to harden to a solid. The process is very unique; it is able to leave “the finest, most delicate tissue structures virtually intact.” Before this method, cadavers were preserved by formaldehyde; the polymer impregnation is a big advance in the medical field, and although fairly new, it is known all over the world. Now, I believe the display to be fascinating, however, could there be ethical, religious, and/or educational controversies that arise for others? Definitely. Many could believe it to be ethically wrong to display bodies that were once alive, and mold them into different positions for the public to see. I feel that if the owner’s of the bodies gave consent for their bodies to be donated to science then this ethical issue shouldn’t exist. BUT many could rebuttal that this isn’t science, and therefore the owner’s wishes are not being followed. Religious issues strike as well; many people believe in different ways of disposing of the body or have different beliefs of how to let them rest. If this isn’t going against what the owner of the body believes then I am completely okay with it being on display. The educational aspect of this is debatable. Some walk into the display already having a predetermined mindset. This leaves no room for learning. I feel those who walk in open-mindedly, are able to get a learning experience out of it. About Joel Perter-Witkin’s explicit artwork, I believe his representation of bodies and art, and is okay. Do I have to agree with his way? No, but he’s allowed to express what he feels. The bodies exhibit is juxtaposed with Peter-Witkin’s artwork because they are both two different ways of demonstrating art combined with science through the human body.
ReplyDeleteDennis, I agree with you that art depends of the “eye of the beholder.” Some artwork speaks to others in different ways. I can definitely understand why you found the display to be more of an educational tool than artwork. Some wouldn’t find bodies that were was alive and molded into some other shape and hardened, to be beautiful or meaningful. I definitely think that the exhibit’s main purpose was educational. It goes through each body system, explaining what it does. They want their audience to get a better understanding of the human body, and even their own individual body as well. Their goal is to give the viewer a better appreciation of the uniqueness of their own body. I think that this is a great, visual way of teaching that, however, many people aren’t able to get those ideas out of the exhibit because their own beliefs contradict it, or they just find it to be pointless and a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteArt is anything that expresses feeling or thoughts. I believe art is a very broad subject. The art shown above is art but in its own way. If it is shown in an exhibit for peoples enjoyment to look at and observe then it is art. It can also be science though. People may visit to enjoy the showings or they are there to study the human body and the anatomy of it. That would be considered science. Would I do visit this exhibit to appreciate it as art? I guess it is kind of cool but for someone to do all that stuff to human bodies is messed up. But it would be interesting to analyze the human body. Art and science can join as one. If they did then the Our Bodies exhibit would a good example. I believe the exhibits bodies can be looked at as both art and science. Alot of people may disagree with my opinion and take offense to it. Some have high expectations for art and could take this exhibit as an insult. Even the people who do not care for art, it may insult them for religious purposes. Some will take it very offensive to dismantle a human body like that. I personally do not care that much but it is little messed up. If you speak of educational purposes then the exhibit is very useful. But ethically not so much.
ReplyDeleteAllison I completely agree with what you are saying. Art can be anything and everything. Like when you see some of those paintings that look like absolutely nothing..thos are considered art. So I agree with the fact that this body exhibit is indeed art. I also agree with the fact that it is not ethical to do these things with the bodies. But people are making money from doing and people are gaining knowledge about the human body. Art and science can be put together but should they? It causes alot of controversy around the world for people that think too much into it. If the bodies they are using in the exhibit were meaningful to someone then they would not have used them.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that it is art! It is weird, crazy, and way out there, but I definitely think it is art. To me art is anything that someone creates to express how they feel about themselves, others, or society. For example, the first couple of pictures that we saw today in class were a form of art because they showed “how the beauty of life is slowly fading away.” I do not think that they are science because it was in no way educational. These two pictures are weird and do not present to us anything that we can learn. I almost don’t even want to look at the pictures if I look at them too long. I think that art and science can join. An example of that would be part of the video that we saw in class. At one point in the video, there had two skeletons positioned in a way where it looked like they were dancing, that is the art part. But one was a skeleton and the other, you could see the muscles. That is the science part because it is teaching us the muscles that are used when dancing, in that particular exhibit. If I were to label it science, I think that there would be a lot of ethical problems because most of the bodies that they have are from China and they may not have given permission to give their bodies for scientific research. Also, how crazy is it for someone to go to a morgue and get parts of a human body and a baby to take a picture of it and call it art?
ReplyDelete-Harold
Alison,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that ethical issues rise up because we don’t know whether the bodies that are used in the exhibits gave permission to have their bodies donated for research. I don’t think it is right for someone to use John Doe bodies because they could have the decency to give that person a name so people will know who he once was. I also agree with what you say about the religious issues that come up. I have a friend who is tradition in her family to cremate the bodies. I also have a friend who in her tradition is to put the body in a tomb, and every year on a certain date, they celebrate the day of the dead. So I believe that neither of these two friends of mine will approve of the donating bodies for science thing.
-Harold
Brandon Kuhn
ReplyDeleteArt is anything someone puts together on purpose. I think any cluster of things no matter what they are can be considered art. People spend countless hours arranging trash to together and then selling it for a lot of money because it turns into art. I think art is more for enjoyment or self accomplishment and science is more for finding information out and trying to gain knowledge. I think these body arts could be used as art and science. On the art side they can be viewed for enjoyment. On the other side, they could be used for scientific research. Scientist could explain them to try to get a better understanding of the human body and how it works. They can try to learn what the end side of the body looks like when it is in different positions. I believe that is the main difference that separates art from science. Science is trying to gain information or learn something that you do not currently know. Art is something that is made to express you and is done for enjoyment. When art is examined, it is looked at for enjoyment not with a goal of accomplishing something. I think the expectations change greatly if we labeled this exhibit art. When something is labeled under the branch of science many people want to make sure nothing curl or inhuman is going on. When it is labeled as an art exhibit people tend to view it with an open mind and are not worried so much about how inhuman it may be. This is what I believe about this art exhibit.
It is amazing what can be considered art. I am an artist myself and I think that as long as something can be visualized and critiqued, than it should be considered as a work of art. No matter if people agree with that, certain piece or if it is extremely controversial, art is art none the less.
ReplyDeleteI think that the work in the "Our Bodies" exhibition is a mixture of science and art. It allows people to understand how the body works because it gives us a presise visual. People learn from the show and are fascinated by the things that they see. I think thatevery human is a work of art because of how different we all are. No matter if we are living or dead, there can always be questions asked about us so that we can kearn more about ourselves.
I have been to several art galleries and all the work that I saw was unique. The difference between the two is that the "Bodies" exhibition is more controversal because only a couple of people maybe gave the scientists concent to use their body when they died. Because of the fact that the people were once living, viewers and spectators may not consider the objects as art, but I would disagree. Someone took their time to arrange the bodies in certain positions so it should be called "scientific art" in my opinion.
-Martine Barjon
Sarah
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that it would be very weird to see an exhibit like this in person. I would be hard to get over the fact that they are real bodies put on display and looked at as art. I understand why your teacher brought you there. Looking at all the bodies could give you a better understanding of what the body looks like under the skin and how it works when we move. I think this would be very beneficial in trying to learn about the antimony of the body. I think if I would actually see one of this art exhibits in person I would began to look at it as art too. I think you can only learn so much by looking at a skeleton but can take it a lot father if you look at it as art. I agree with you in that it can be seen as art and as a learning tool.
-brandon
Sammi
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in saying that art can be almost anything. Anything someone puts together for a purpose or for enjoyment can be considered art in my opinion. I did not think about how the different molds of the bodies could represent different things, and could provoke different thoughts out of the viewers. I do think science is very involved when making this art work. This art allows you to see the inside of the body and how it works in different positions. I do hope that the bodies of the once alive people gave some sort of consent for their dead bodies to be but on display for the public to see. I do think displaying of these bodies of art could be very controversial, but if given consent by the person who wants there dead body to be displayed than it should be ok.
-brandon
Harold
ReplyDeleteI have the same beliefs as you in that there art is very weird and crazy. Like you, I do think it is art because art can be almost anything. I do think this kind of art can be used as science but I do not think they are truly mixed. I believe the skeletons are used for science to examine and study but then put on display for mostly art purposes. I do think when the bodies are positioned in different ways they can be looked at as science because you can study how the different muscles are positioned in different movements. Once the bodies are put on display in art museums then they become mostly pieces of art to look at. This is why I agree with what you said.
-brandon
I think that the exhibit was created with the intention of science and education not so much art, although the way the bodies are portrayed in certain positions can be interpreted as art work. The way the bodies are positioned in some displays serve as a way to better understand the body in that specific position rather than an artistic expression. I think that the people creating the exhibits wanted to capture the attention of viewers by positioning the bodies in the ways viewers would find most interesting. So in my opinion, the exhibit is for scientific and educational purposes, but the creativity involved in the decisions on how to portray the human body, in a way allows art and science to join. It becomes an ethical concern for people who think it’s wrong to use these dead bodies and display them for the world to see. But if these people have willingly donated their bodies for the betterment of science and research I don’t see a problem with it. By juxtaposing Joel Peter-Witkin’s art work and the “Our Bodies” exhibit you can see two similar concepts but for two different reasons. The “Our Bodies” exhibit was mostly for science using donated bodies, while the work of Joel Peter-Witkin focuses more on art and creativity using unclaimed bodies as the main subjects. Both cases use dead bodies which can be controversial, but by captivating their audiences they draw attention away from the ethical concerns presented by their unconventional methods.
ReplyDeleteAllison,
ReplyDeleteIt is true that art can be anything you want it to be, even if it is a piece of garbage on a plate. That’s where the saying “beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” comes from. But I disagree with you that this exhibit is not science, because it clearly would have been more creative and overly done if it was just for art. Science has to be more conservative otherwise it loses its objectivity. It is true that art and science can come together but this exhibit was more of a learning tool than an art exhibit.
Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the exhibit is an “amazing scientific demonstration.” It allows you to get a different perspective on how our bodies work. If you look at things in a new light you may just discover things you never knew before. It is true that exhibits like this can help lead to new medical discoveries and breakthroughs just by being able to explore the body in a different way. I like how you compared this exhibit to Leonardo DiVinci’s work because it draws the connection between art and science; it helps people understand that science can be art.
To me art can be anything you want it to be. I can honestly say art can be almost anything...from dead bodies to a beautiful painting of a coliseum or a picture. Art is a gate way to a new world. Some look at art subjectively, that is to say some form different opinions depending upon what they see. Others how ever do not take the time to consider the genius in which the artist was trying to convey and remain ignorant to the beautiful work in front of them.
ReplyDeleteThroughout time, art has been used to communicate messages, much like it is today. From cave paintings, to stone engravings, “art” as it is considered now, was considered communication. This fact, although somewhat altered through time, is still a main objective in the art community today.
Modern art, contrary to classic art is sometimes misconstrued by the public. By saying public, I include myself. I do not understand it, and therefore do not find it beautiful. Seriously, if I were to take a garbage can, beat it to hell, and then smear macaroni and cheese on it, I might be able to pass it off as modern art.
To me art and science can coincide and become one. If you really sit back and think about it what is science but a art in a very orderly and proper order. For example, the body display is an art show that is set up in order to show you the beauty of the human body as well as help you learn about the body, which is a science.
This exhibit is science and art. The definition of science is a systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.(dictionary.com) This proves that the human body is science and is something that can be observed. We learn about the body in science based classes like anatomy and health. The human body itself is art. It was created in the most unique way and is the most unique thing on earth. The definition of art is the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance(Dictionary.com) To someone, me even, the body exhibit is beautiful. I think that it is beautiful in its own way and that’s why it can be expressed as art and science. The pictures by Witkin is also art but far from science. It is unusually unique and on the disturbing side of the tracks but it is still art. Both are quite controversial subjects. The controversial part is the consent from the people and their families. China shouldn’t be allowed to just give away bodies. Everyone should have a proper burial. But just for thought, what if we didn’t have this body exhibit. People who are of interest would not be allowed to view the human body in dept and with much detail as they can in the exhibit. Witkin got bodies from the morgue but does that classify it as morally right. I think not. But for the body exhibit, it is definitely art.
ReplyDeleteDamonica Solomon
I agree Evan art is anything. There are so many different genres of art and so many perceptions of what art is. I can align M&M's on my desk in a specific pattern take a picture of it and it becomes my masterpiece. Abstract art is still art. I might not be able to tell what it's supposed to project but the artist who created it can tell you every aspect of the picture. Sometimes in museums or art shows, there are blotches of paint in different colors or in a color scheme that people would pay hundreds of thousands for. Maybe even millions. Art is beautiful and art is bold and I think that is what the body exhibit exemplifies as well as Witkin.
ReplyDeleteDamonica Solomon
I believe these pictures could be art and science. They picture that were painted were abstract. The bodies are as part of science because the bodies were donated to the work of science. I believe this can't be work of art, because it s used for educational purpose. I fclt as if I was watching a picure from anatomy because I seen all the tissue and stuff. But for people who see art in a different form then this picture may not be for them. I am one of those kind of people. Everything you compose is a work of art. But his art is so weird misunderstood you have to look deeper to see what he is feeling. Depending on what your culture is it may change your opinion on what you t about the picture of the body and fruit. As for me i'm not artsy so I don't have the same vision. I believe I got to see this exhibit with my school a couple years ago on a trip in my science class so you can basically call it science
ReplyDeletei agree with what damonica said. there sre so many different kinds and different art forms. that is what make us diverse. Abstract art is a type of art andthe prupose of it is to give you a different kind of vibe, or seeing things out of the box. But I also agree the human body is more of a sciencet than a art. So i like the picture but i just don't know if they are something i could particularyly realte to.
ReplyDeleteAllison,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that this could and should be considered art. If people can pile up subjective garbage in an art gallery, why cant they put human bodies in an exhibition and not call it art. It is just as interesting, if not more as any other art gallery and is not fair if it would not be looked up as art. It is defiantly science though, no doubt about it. Scientists specifically placed the corpse in meticulous ways so that they can explain to us how certain things in our body works. Art and science can be related and this exhibition is a prime example of that. Although that some may dispute that it is purely science, I would beg to differ.
-Martine Barjon
Brandon,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that this is art, but I do not think that art is only things that are created on purpose. There are many disputes against that, but that is just simply where I stand in that view point. I liked the way you broke it down to really define your meaning of art and your meaning of science. Everything that you wrote about made since and I totally agree. As an artist my self, whether I paint for art, or science, I want to be recognized for what I have done. If they intertwine with each other than I should be credited as so. The same goes with the scientists that were involved in the exhibition.
-Martine Barjon
I believe that the bodies can only be art if they are used or set up in the right way. There is a line that crosses the boundaries of too far and considered art. I feel like since each body was once a person that they should be respected in a manner that is with pride and dignity. We shouldn’t put them in positions that we ourselves are put into.
ReplyDeleteAl Popham
I feel like the bodies exhibit shows our our muscles and inner body system works. They have set up bodys showing us how different muscles look as different activities are done.
In the first picture, I feel like the art was taken to far. That baby never had a say on rather it be in art with body parts. I might just be un educated and don’t understand art, but I don’t see compared to the Mona Lisa.
The second picture I feel like is and artsy educated tool. He is not put in an awkward situation. He also shows us what our inside of the body looks like. He does a great job explaining the exhibit on the youtube video and I advise everyone to see the bodies exhibit.
Even that most of the bodies in the bodies exhibit are being used without consent. It is also an educational tool as well and should be rememeberd when looking at them. Try to remember who the person was before he became a standing skeleton for you to examin. Maybe that will bring a new perspective.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about going to the exhibit on a field trip. That it is weird seeing all the dead bodies lying around and how awkward that is. I agree with how art can range from a finger painting to items at the Lueve in France. Everyone sees art differently and it is cool how people make new ideas from art. From what I saw at the bodies exhibit, I thought of it as more educational than art. Even though they arrange them in certain positions, I feel like it is more educational than a way to express ones self.
AL POPHAM
I was the anonymous above