This week’s lecture focuses on the integration of biotechnology with art is a topic that I’m actually not familiar with at all. Bioart, as mentioned in the lecture is altering or modifying organisms at the cellular level. The pioneer of this field was Joe Davis whose innovative work with light and sound proved to be monumental in scientific study. One of his experiments was the audio microscope, “a microscope that translates light information into sound, allowing you to “hear cells, each with its own ‘acoustic signature’” (Joe Davis). This has been pursued and researched further and is looking into being used to help detect cancer as the movements/motions of the cells have been amplified, producing sound (Binns).
As silly as this may sound, the most interesting that I found in the lecture was Alba, the fluorescent “GFP bunny”. Alba was created by zygote microinjection. A protein from a fluorescent jellyfish was manipulated and magnified (for strength) and was inserted into a fertilized rabbit for the genes to reproduce into this fluorescent bunny. According to Business Insider, similar experiments are done to create “piece[s] of conceptual art. Other animals that scientist have gotten to glow green include dogs, cats, pigs, and mice” (Ferris).
In her article “Why is Bioart Not Terrorism?,” Munster describes the accusations against Steve Kurts for producing bio-terrorist weapons and also Mark Lombardi with his work in government and mafia activities via art. “If anything links these two events at all, it is simply that in the broader sphere of public culture in the US (rather than in its more insulated art world), the political status of art is no longer determined by recourse to the politics of the artist or to the platform promoted by the work’s content. Art now becomes ‘political’ when it catches the attention of a policing agency.”(Munster). This brought about the question for me as to whether Bioart is a field of study that people should be allowed to pursue?
Bibliography
Adams, Clément. "Bioart, Ethics And Artworks." Masters of Media. University of Amsterdam, 18 Apr.
2012. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://mastersofmedia.hum.uva.nl/2012/04/18/bioart-ethics-and-artworks/>.
Binns, Corey. "Do Cells Make Noise?" Popular Science. Popular Science, 28 Jan. 2008. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-01/do-cells-make-noise>.
"Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture." Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture. Design Media Arts 98T: Genetics and Cultures, n.d. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_joe.htm>.
Kac, Eduardo. "GFP Bunny." KAC. KAC, 2000. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor>.
Munster, Anna. "Why Is BioArt Not Terrorism?: Some Critical Nodes in the Networks of Infomatice Life." Culture Machine. Culture Machine, 2005. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.culturemachine.net/index.php/cm/rt/printerFriendly/31/38>.
Vesna, Victoria, Prof. "BioTech-Art Lectures." Video. 5 May 2015. Lecture.
Hi Robin,
ReplyDeleteBioArt is a topic that I am also unfamiliar with and just like you, I was super fascinated with Alba, the GFP bunny! I believe that Alba, the creation of Eduardo Kac, was important to bring to light how seemingly different disciplines can actually interact. The integration of Biotechnology and Art has a number of ethical implications, but is important as long as it promotes dialogue between experts in different fields and no living beings are harmed in any way.