The topic for this week was Biotechnology + Art. At the beginning of the lecture video, Professor Vesna talks about how there is a debate going on for the definition of "BioArt" and discusses about two different cases. First case is the one in which artists work directly with tissues or cellular level and the other case is the one in which artists use scientific imaging to create bio art. I was not very sure with this week's topic, so I think it was nice that she mentions about this disagreement in the beginning of the lecture.
I believe the most important aspect and most memorable about this week's topic is the ethical and moral controversies that are going on in this field of "BioArt". As the field of BioArt is getting more and more popular, there have been ethical debates going on about using parts of animals or other living species during the process.
I do not believe life itself is a valid expressive medium. For centuries, we've been testing untested medicines, chemicals, and toxic substances on animals for the experiments or for the invention of medicines or cosmetics and I do believe artists have something to with these issues as well. In the past there was Costa Rican artist Guillermo Vargas who starved the dog to death in his exhibition to illustrate the point out there are dogs that starve and die due to people's indifference toward them. Also, in 2008, Parisian artist Adel Abdessened opened an exhibit in which she bludgeoned numerous different animals to death with hammer next to the brick wall for the "sake of art". In 2012, Dutch artist Katinka Simose caused outrage among the animal rights group for butchering and dismembering dogs, threatening to put baby chicks through the shredder, killing and putting hooks on chicks and so many other violent and brutal acts on the animals for her art exhibition. I know for BioArt, it is more about using live tissues, living organisms or bacteria. However, some artists have been pulling out the tissues or injecting genes to animals and it is proven that there are some artists who will do whatever they want and can on the animals for the sake of art. So I am concerned with what worse actions can happen to animals in the process of coming up with the ideas and in the process of creating art works.
There definitely should be limits to human creativity. I believe no lives should be sacrificed, harmed, or destroyed in the process. I can appreciate any sorts of art works unless they cause harm to others.
References/Works Cited:
Dangi, Ritu. "Biotechnology." EngineersGarage. EngineersGarage, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. M<https://www.engineersgarage.com/articles/biotechnology>
"Branding, Torturing, and Murdering Animals for Art." WebEcoist. TotallyHer Media, LLC, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2009/01/10/animal-torture-art/>
"How to Analyze." ethical decisions. n.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <https://ethicaldecisions.net/how-to-analyze-an-ethical-dilemma/>
Phillips, Tazi. "Netherlands Woman Kills Animals For Art." globalaniaml. Global Aniaml, 24 Jan 2012. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/01/24/netherlands-woman-kills-animals-for-art/>
Scudellari, Megan. "2012 Bio-Art Winners." TheScientist. LabX Media Group, 25 May 2012. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/32134/title/2012-Bio-Art-Winners/>
Vesna, Victoria. “5 bioart pt1 1280x720.” YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sept 2013. Web. 14 May 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg>
I believe the most important aspect and most memorable about this week's topic is the ethical and moral controversies that are going on in this field of "BioArt". As the field of BioArt is getting more and more popular, there have been ethical debates going on about using parts of animals or other living species during the process.
I do not believe life itself is a valid expressive medium. For centuries, we've been testing untested medicines, chemicals, and toxic substances on animals for the experiments or for the invention of medicines or cosmetics and I do believe artists have something to with these issues as well. In the past there was Costa Rican artist Guillermo Vargas who starved the dog to death in his exhibition to illustrate the point out there are dogs that starve and die due to people's indifference toward them. Also, in 2008, Parisian artist Adel Abdessened opened an exhibit in which she bludgeoned numerous different animals to death with hammer next to the brick wall for the "sake of art". In 2012, Dutch artist Katinka Simose caused outrage among the animal rights group for butchering and dismembering dogs, threatening to put baby chicks through the shredder, killing and putting hooks on chicks and so many other violent and brutal acts on the animals for her art exhibition. I know for BioArt, it is more about using live tissues, living organisms or bacteria. However, some artists have been pulling out the tissues or injecting genes to animals and it is proven that there are some artists who will do whatever they want and can on the animals for the sake of art. So I am concerned with what worse actions can happen to animals in the process of coming up with the ideas and in the process of creating art works.
References/Works Cited:
Dangi, Ritu. "Biotechnology." EngineersGarage. EngineersGarage, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. M<https://www.engineersgarage.com/articles/biotechnology>
"Branding, Torturing, and Murdering Animals for Art." WebEcoist. TotallyHer Media, LLC, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2009/01/10/animal-torture-art/>
"How to Analyze." ethical decisions. n.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <https://ethicaldecisions.net/how-to-analyze-an-ethical-dilemma/>
Phillips, Tazi. "Netherlands Woman Kills Animals For Art." globalaniaml. Global Aniaml, 24 Jan 2012. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/01/24/netherlands-woman-kills-animals-for-art/>
Scudellari, Megan. "2012 Bio-Art Winners." TheScientist. LabX Media Group, 25 May 2012. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/32134/title/2012-Bio-Art-Winners/>
Vesna, Victoria. “5 bioart pt1 1280x720.” YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sept 2013. Web. 14 May 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg>
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