WEEK 6 Blog
Bio Tech and Art
The combination Biotech and Art creates very complex medium. Professor Vesna began her lecture by explaining that bio technology, genetics, and technology artists have entered into laboratories working directly with biologists and neurologists. These biotech artists usually work with genetics to create their own unique works of art. The reason why I claimed that biotech and art is a very complex medium is for two reasons. First, the works of art usually involve complex and advanced scientific knowledge and techniques. Secondly, biotech and art is a complex medium because of the ethical issues surrounding modification of living things. It is this ethical dilemma that I will explore today.
Kac's GFP bunny. Notice how it glows in the dark. |
Discussions of what is at stake in bio-artworks tend to focus on questions such as: Should artists be allowed to meddle with life? What are the potential implications of artists letting laboratory life forms into the environment? Should there be constraints on whether, how and when artists can use these biotechnologies? Eduardo Kac’s GFP bunny is a good example of an ethical dilemma. Kac infused rabbit DNA with translucent properties from a bio-luminescent jellyfish. The end result was a living rabbit that would glow in the
Kac and his bunny. Notice how the bunny appears healthy. |
The jellyfish that Kac used to engineer his GFP bunny. |
In conclusion, the main question facing the biotech art community is: should we do things just because we can? My answer is no. Just because we can bioengineer a rabbit to glow doesn’t mean we should. I don't believe the alteration of living things should be considered a field for aesthetics. Bio art just presents an unnecessary risk to living creatures that I do not think is justified by the amazing projects.
Sources:
Uconlineprogram. “Biotech intro NEW.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 Mar. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvp924_pbgc. Accessed 14 May 2017.
“Louis-Marie Houdebine.” Accueil du site, www.agoravox.fr/auteur/louis-marie-houdebine. Accessed 14 May 2017.
“Eduardo Kac's Gfp Bunny Incites Debate About Ethics Of Transgenic Art.” Eduardo Kac's Gfp Bunny Incites Debate About Ethics Of Transgenic Art, www.ekac.org/artswire.html. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Vaage, Nora S. “What Ethics for Bioart?” Nanoethics, Springer Netherlands, 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4791467/#CR34. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Becker, Carrol. “ GFP BUNNY.” K A C , www.ekac.org/cbecker.html. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Image sources:
http://www.conncoll.edu/ccacad/zimmer/GFP-ww/images/alba2.jpg
http://www.ekac.org/gfpb1.jpeg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e5/f5/8c/e5f58c45ecc785a6f51799c30b169150.jpg
I definitely agree with your statement regarding our ability to do things just because we can. There are a lot of things we are capable of doing, but does that means it is necessary, progressive or even moral? Altering the living organisms that exist today and potentially putting them at risk is one think i personally cannot see to have an "aesthetic" or artistic beauty. Great post!
ReplyDelete