WEEK 6: BIOTECH AND ART

In this week's lecture, we learned about one of the more controversial topics revolving around the intersections between art and science. In each of the lectures, Professor Vesna talks about the different organizations and artists that have become relevant by progressing in their combinations of art and biotechnology. These issues become controversial when artists begin to create hybrids or alter the genetic codes of living creatures—mainly animals. I feel as if the use of animals and other living organisms to express art has an inherent feel of "playing God," such that some artists feel that they have a message to relay to the world by altering the biological features of another creature. 
Stelarc, an artist, had an ear surgically attached to his arm

Transgenic animals are animals that have been genetically altered for scientific purposes. I feel that art and technology are similar due to the fact that they both make advancements overtime and push boundaries that some may find controversial or even disprove of entirely.  It seems as artistic advancements and progressions can cause uproar because these artists are using science to cross boundaries and defy the laws of nature.
Some might argue this to be a naturalistic fallacy—which is to say that just because something is natural does not mean that it is a good thing. Nature has shown us plenty of examples of this—terminal diseases, biological deficiencies, etc.  Just as technology is based on a purpose scientists wish to fulfill, so is art. However, the technological advancements are seen as more useful and practical for society than artistic advancements. Nonetheless, I feel they should be held at different standards despite the fact that some methods do overlap—chimeras, neon gene injections, animal testing, etc. Technology often makes advancements for the betterment of humans whereas artists make advancements for aesthetic pleasures but not always for sensible reasons. For example, one of the more controversial project done was a transgenic rabbit named Alba. Created by Eduardo Catz, Alba was a bunny who was injected with the EGFG gene from a luminescent jellyfish to make her glow.
When she was born, she was a neon green color, raising uproar from animal rights activists while scientists dismissed the idea as nonsense. In closing, I do feel that human creativity should have some limitations—otherwise, the lines between right and wrong will continue to become blurred and morality will no longer be of importance. 

                                                                        Works Cited
Vesna, Victoria. "5 bioart pt1 1280x720." YouTube.com. 18 September 2013, Web. Retrieved 14 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg&feature=youtu.be.

 Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt pt2." YouTube.com.  17 May 2012, Web. Retrieved 14 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSt-Hjyi2I&feature=youtu.be&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7.

 Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt pt3." YouTube.com. 17 May 2012, Web. Retrieved 14 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpD3np1S2g&feature=youtu.be&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7.

 Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt pt4." YouTube.com. 17 May 2012, Web. Retrieved 14 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSc72u9KhI&feature=youtu.be&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7.

 Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt pt5." YouTube.com. 17 May 2012, Web. Retrieved 14 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7zHIdsFS3A&feature=youtu.be&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7.

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