WEEK 4: MEDICINE + ART

       Art and medicine are constantly interacting with each other; however, it was not until this week’s course that I become more consciously aware of these interactions. 


        In the age of the covid pandemic, we witness a lot of vaccine hesitancy. While vaccine hesitancy is a complex issue, a key component of it has to do with the lack of understanding of medical technology. Mike Steyels speaks in length about how art can be used as a tool to raise awareness about vaccines. Artistic work helps demystify science and eases the fear of the unknown that people may have. 


Steyels, Mike. Using Art to Raise Awareness About Vaccinations, 28 Mar. 2016, www.vice.com/en/article/9anmmp/vaccination-awareness-art . 


   Research suggests that artistic study can also be utilized to help doctors “become more thoughtful and listen carefully to a patient's narrative of his/her symptoms, and this allows doctors to make a more informed diagnosis” (Hajar). Here we see art being used to better medical practices/ technologies. 


             Furthermore, Patricia Olynyk in her lecture gave an excellent example of how art had been used in the past to raise awareness about HIV. She also spoke about how art had been used to stop the stigmatization of the gay community during the AIDS pandemic. This made me think of the movie- The Normal Heart. The movie details “the start of the AIDS protest movement” (Armond). When I watched the movie, I connected with the human emotion portrayed by the actors and wanted to research more about the AIDS pandemic and learn more about it. Furthermore, the film depicts how medical professionals are learning more about the disease and how technology and treatments are evolving.  This is what art does- it helps break down stigmas associated with the diseases and communities by documenting accurate information of the medicinal knowledge/ technology behind it.  

Murphy, Ryan Murphy, director. The Normal Heart: Trailer (HBO Films). YouTube, YouTube, 23 May 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXl_mat0ef0. 

        

              The collaboration of art and medicine can be used to campaign for social causes such as transgender rights. Medical research affirms the identity of a transgender individual, for “When we look at the transgender brain, we see that the brain resembles the gender that the person identifies as” (Team). Just knowing this simple medical fact can help with the advocacy of trans people. However, research alone will not be sufficient. There is a need for media/ art involvement to convey this to the general public and to humanize the whole experience.” I am Jazz” is a tv show that covers the life of a transgender teen. The show helps convey the human and emotional experiences of a transgender person. Furthermore, the show gives its platform to doctors and medical professionals to demystify medical procedures such as gender reassignment surgery. 


Jennings, Jazz. I Am Jazz Trailer | TLC | SKY TV. YouTube, YouTube, 16 Nov. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll3zqeOclBo. 



           Through all of this, it is evident that the collaboration between art and medicine can be utilized to tackle several of the issues that our society faces. 



REFERENCES:


Steyels, Mike. “Using Art to Raise Awareness About Vaccinations.” VICE, VICE, 28 Mar. 2016, www.vice.com/en/article/9anmmp/vaccination-awareness-art. 

Hajar, Rachel. “What Has Art to Do with Medicine?” Heart Views, vol. 19, no. 1, 2018, p. 34., doi:10.4103/heartviews.heartviews_6_18. 

Olynyk , Patricia. “Medicine and Art .” 19 Apr. 2021. 

White, Armond. “The Normal Heart's Historical & Future Impact.” OUT, Out Magazine, 6 Feb. 2015, www.out.com/entertainment/armond-white/2014/05/24/normal-heart-historical-future-impact. 

Team, Brain and Spine. “Research on the Transgender Brain: What You Should Know.” Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic, Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic, 13 Oct. 2020, health.clevelandclinic.org/research-on-the-transgender-brain-what-you-should-know/. 

Steyels, Mike. Using Art to Raise Awareness About Vaccinations, 28 Mar. 2016, www.vice.com/en/article/9anmmp/vaccination-awareness-art . 

Murphy, Ryan Murphy, director. The Normal Heart: Trailer (HBO Films). YouTube, YouTube, 23 May 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXl_mat0ef0. 

Jennings, Jazz. I Am Jazz Trailer | TLC | SKY TV. YouTube, YouTube, 16 Nov. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll3zqeOclBo. 


 

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