Medicine + Biotechnology + Neuroscience + Art (Manmade Evolutionary Change)

Of course, the infatuation we have with any sort of hero is that they represent something that we are not.

Pictured: our favorite flavor.
<http://dettoldisney.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/hercules-vs-heracles/>

More importantly, they represent something we COULD be if changes were made to our biology. But changes to ourselves, to our own kind, for the sake of being more than “normal” and something outside of the natural are sometimes thought to be inexcusable.

The Green Goblin had good intentions. Really.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wMwtQU_RzfI>

The Neuroscience lecture’s talk of cocaine and LSD consumption for eliciting sensory experiences of an anomalous nature really makes one consider how fair it is to be restricted in self-exploration and creative inspirations, on top of chance medicinal benefits, in exchange for a supposed security on life.

A character from RED that was a part of Project MKULTRA.
Things went well for him, clearly.
<http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llyro1R4LZ1qbqzgjo1_500.gif>

A possibly non-insanity inducing alternative to LSD.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs6HmGEbZH0>

Orlan's Harlequin Coat and Stellark’s Third Ear are forms of self-mutilation to some, but to others including themselves their art represents their struggle to surpass the boundaries of creativity; operating on their own life is both a freedom in that they may do whatever they may please but they are limited to the capacities of a relatively weak human body.

Cosplayer Level: 1000.
<http://gonintendo.com/?p=149354>

The reason academics like Hoffman, Huxley, and Leary and artists like Orlan and Stellark attempt these extraordinary sort of expressions are thought to possibly be extensions of the collective unconscious expanded upon by Jung. As Dr. Vesna’s lecture said, the archetypes of self, shadow, animus, anima, and persona that are mentally universally-held may be motivating human life and creative acts, which I don’t personally find hard to believe.

Literally a spectrum of archetypical characters associated with emotions.
<http://bloodysamoan.deviantart.com/art/Lantern-Corps-ultra-print-179742268>

Maybe those five classifications aren’t exact, but I do notice that our minds, as far as mass populations go, tend to appreciate characters or items that fit into categories, stereotypes, classifications, etc. – things that are recognizable to a group. I can imagine pharmaceuticals and transgenics and all these human applications of technologies as personal attempts to find a truer self but eventually have that self belong to a group, such as obtaining and maintaining the best state of health to be seen as one of those people who thrive on having a contained, persistent, physical presence.

Building upon this collective consciousness, it would seem that we value artistic media and technology based off of this universal understanding – if we see a work that adheres to a classification we internally conceive, then it has value, be it positive or negative. Take for example GFP protein tracing: my lab knows that the public will be able to interpret our imaging of drug distribution in mice because it translates into eventual application into themselves and curative/preventative measures against bad versions of themselves.

GFP was also implemented in laboratories as a night-time mouse escape precaution.
Not really.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7658945.stm>

I put much value into the Atala’s organ-growing technology because I was able to place myself in the bioengineers’ thought processes of scaffolding, exercising, printing, etc. attributable to the admirable archetype of practical problem-solvers.

Spider-Man's Lizard: a lesson to companies that aren't willing to wait for their scientists' patient methods.
<http://www.cultureslap.com/the-amazing-spider-man-review/>

As opposed to technologies we apply to the natural world, of course the vast majority of people hold the bias that any effects of technology on ourselves take precedence over all other consequences. Like in Ramachandran’s ecstatic revelation of the joy his patients had over their phantom limb chronic pain relief, we immediately jump at such opportunities of technological application.

Jumping = Joy
<http://www.powerrisersjumpingstilts.com/jumping-stilts-pictures/jumping-stilts-in-action/>

As far as restrictions against art through medicine, biotechnology, and neuroscience goes, their manipulation of these resources should be free of them as long as the artists do not endanger any non-participants, just as it is for most scientists. Although scientific biotechnology impact on involuntary parties has gone as far as reverse-Fordism because of plant genomic manipulation as Pollan explained, scientists like myself are constantly regulated to ensure our experimental endeavors don’t trespass our immediate party until they are as safe as they can be.

With that said, artistic science must be taken as a personal responsibility to be safe for all. Authorization should not be necessary to practice it, but one only needs the example of lobotomies to show how our conceptions and assumptions of science must be as accurate as possible for aesthetic results.

Both the beginning and end of Suckerpunch.
And somehow, you're interested.
SCIENCE.
<http://suckerpunch.wikia.com/wiki/File:Lobotomy03.jpg>

I was able to relate Schuler’s “Genomics 101” presentation to Penrose’s concern regarding consciousness. Our new technologies, as controversial as they may be, are only rearrangements of the materials nature has given us. Our consciousness may be one of the most mysterious things we will ever encounter because all of our memories, thoughts, and actions are millions upon millions of chemical reactions occurring within each person, governed by a phenomenon that physically allows for these reactions to occur by the same mechanism in each person and still results in incredibly varied personas and intellects. 

Until mathematicians find the equation and/or solution for generating consciousness or our physical world runs out of usable material for us to use, then man will continue to explore every creative niche possible, whether human governments place limits or not.

Creativity lives on in Wall-E's strangely emotional consciousness through cubism.
<http://jonstephens.livejournal.com/188431.html>

Sources

Amos, Jonathan. 'Glowing' jellyfish grabs Nobel. BBC News, 2008. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7658945.stm>.

Atala, Anthony. Anthony Atala: Growing new organs. TED, 2010. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_growing_organs_engineering_tissue.html>.

AzEvanz. Osborn turns GREEN GOBLIN scene ►►HD 1080p◄◄. Youtube, 2007. Web. Jul 21 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wMwtQU_RzfI>.

BloodySamoan. Lantern Corps ultra print. DeviantART, 2010. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://bloodysamoan.deviantart.com/art/Lantern-Corps-ultra-print-179742268>.

CultureSlap. The Amazing Spider-Man review. CultureSlap, 2012. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.cultureslap.com/the-amazing-spider-man-review/>.

Doctor Rocket. Lobotomy03.jpg. Wikia, 2013. Web Jul 21 2013. <http://suckerpunch.wikia.com/wiki/File:Lobotomy03.jpg>.

Jonstephens. The Importance of Names in Literature and Film - Pixar's WALL-E. LiveJournal, 2011. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://jonstephens.livejournal.com/188431.html>.

Kotaku. The LSD-Inspired, Oculus Rift Game 'SoundSelf'. Youtube, 2013. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs6HmGEbZH0>.


Okapina. Hercules vs. Heracles. WordPress, 2012. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://dettoldisney.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/hercules-vs-heracles/>.

PBS. POV | Food, Inc. | Interview with Michael Pollan | PBS. Youtube, 2010. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ty0eehT8Y4>.

Penrose, Roger. Consciousness involves noncomputable ingredients. The Third Culture: Beyond the Scientific Revolution. Simon & Schuster, 1995. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/v-Ch.14.html>.

Power Risers Jumping Stilts. Jumping stilts in action. Power Risers Jumping Stilts, 2011. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.powerrisersjumpingstilts.com/jumping-stilts-pictures/jumping-stilts-in-action/>.
Ramachandran, V.S. VS Ramachandran: 3 clues to understanding your brain. TED, 2007. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.ted.com/talks/vilayanur_ramachandran_on_your_mind.html>.

RawmeatCowboy. Video Game Art - The ultimate Pokemon body mod. GoNintendo, 2011. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://gonintendo.com/?p=149354>.

Schuler, Barry. Barry Schuler: Genomics 101. TED, 2009. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/barry_schuler_genomics_101.html>.

Ukraineternopil. History of Surgery (episode 1 Part 5). Youtube, 2009. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=0PJCaALyS7k>.

Vesna, Victoria. 5 BioArt pt1. Youtube, 2012. Web. Jul 21 2013. < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUENH6GLzXY>.

Vesna, Victoria. 5 BioArt pt4. Youtube, 2012. Web. Jul 21 2013. < https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&v=2qSc72u9KhI>.

Vesna, Victoria. Neuroscience-pt1.mov. Youtube, 2012. Web. Jul 21 2013. < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI>.


Vesna, Victoria. Neuroscience pt3. Youtube, 2012. Web. Jul 21 2013. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0>.

Zombierabbits. John Malkovich. Tumblr, n.d. Web. Jul 21 2013. <http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llyro1R4LZ1qbqzgjo1_500.gif>.