Week 4 | Medicine + Technology + Art

Medicine and technology have advanced, and as a result, more data and robotics are available to doctors. This however has caused depersonalization between doctors and patients. Doctors have just analyzed the numbers and data that have been available to them and have treated their patients like "inanimate objects". This is where the arts come in. Arts represent humanity and emotions, such as empathy. Doctors need empathy to understand their patients. In order to achieve these, many schools including UCLA have required humanities and arts courses for all students regardless if they are pursuing a science or arts degree.

https://dailycampus.squarespace.com/stories/2018/4/6/the-nonsensical-schism-between-humanities-and-sciences


Another more direct use of arts in medicine is the use of music in therapy. Music is a form of art. Music therapy uses music to treat various issues, such as social or cognitive. This shows how music and art can be used in modern medicine. Music and art can heal different illnesses, along with other medicine. Whether the patient is listening to music or playing an instrument themselves, it has shown to help rehabilitate, for example, people who suffer from Alzheimer's, or a traumatic head injury. Music occupies the attention of the mind, which can alter behavior.

https://www.verywellmind.com/benefits-of-music-therapy-89829


Plastic surgery uses medicine to alter the appearance in order to fit the ideal aesthetic, which is similar to art. Plastic surgeons study the field of medicine, and in turn end up altering people's appearances, which is similar to doing art. People have a certain ideal look that they want, even if it is impossible to achieve naturally. As a result, these people turn to medicine in order to achieve their desired aesthetic. The use of surgery to alter appearance shows how art and medicine come together.

https://omaha.com/livewellnebraska/consumer/who-s-behind-the-knife-when-planning-plastic-or-cosmetic-procedures-youve-got-to-do/article_02c437ae-48ac-5bc4-ab65-55dfbbefe76c.html









Citations

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “Art, Artistry, and Plastic Surgery : Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.” LWW, journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/fulltext/2012/10000/Art,_Artistry,_and_Plastic_Surgery.68.aspx.

Hajar, Rachel. “What Has Art to Do with Medicine?” Heart Views : the Official Journal of the Gulf Heart Association, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5965014/.

Katz, Michael. “The Nonsensical Schism between Humanities and Sciences.” The Daily Campus, The Daily Campus, 6 Apr. 2018, dailycampus.squarespace.com/stories/2018/4/6/the-nonsensical-schism-between-humanities-and-sciences.

“What Is Music Therapy?” Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing, www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/common-questions/what-music-therapy.

Wong, Cathy. “The Benefits of Music Therapy.” Verywell Mind, 17 Sept. 2020, www.verywellmind.com/benefits-of-music-therapy-89829.







Comments

  1. Stuti BakshiApril 26, 2021 at 4:20 AM

    Hi Kent! I really liked the connections you made in your blog. I thought it was cool to bring in some of our Week 1 content about the arts vs the sciences, and the importance of having experience in both. I also liked your point on music therapy; it's not something I thought of initially but I completely agree that music therapy is a great example of medicine and art. My favorite of the connections you made was the final one, on plastic surgery. I feel like all forms of surgery are a work of art but one could definitely argue that plastics takes the cake. In my own blog I wrote a little bit about the aesthetic/cosmetic industry too and I think plastic surgery (both the vision of the final product and the actual execution of the surgery) is a really good example of how medicine and art can align.

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