Biotech and Art

I found this weeks topic extremely interesting as it delves into the way in which technology, science, and art interact, along with the ways in which new developments within these realms converge with decisions about morality. I found it very interesting to consider this topic in regards to art, as I generally view it as merely a Biotech issue. The notion that transgenics, selective breeding, and other genetic alterations to living beings is a form of art is entirely new to me however, the idea allows me to look at the subject in a different light. The use of Biotech to create art is one which  is entirely new to me and I was quite interested in learning about it.

The art piece Victimless Leather which was done by SymbioticA and was a "stitch-less" jacket that was grown from cells into a layer of tissue and shaped like a coat, was used as an art piece at the Museum of Modern Art in New York to essentially "grow" a living leather jacket. Just as biotechnology does, at many times, converge with questions of morality, this art piece in itself acted as a question about morality, as this one in particular confronted the notion of wearing parts of a dead animal. 

The topic of biotechnology and morality interests me and reminds me of a movie that I just watched this week, which I am sure many here have seen, called Gattaca. The film is about a world in which genetically engineering embryos to ensure the best possible outcome for each child becomes a mainstream practice. The entire film clearly delves into the morality of such a world, in which natural births are looked down on and are considered highly risky, and those born by natural birth go through life at an extreme disadvantage. After watching this film with friends, there was a very large debate about whether the entire idea of engineering embryos was morally sound or not. I find it very interesting to learn about scientists who have decided that we must limit ourselves and watch what we do in order to ensure that we are acting in a way that is ethical. Since scientists are generally interested in furthering our knowledge and advancing through technology, It is very interesting to learn about those who decided to use that scientific knowledge to create art and pass on a message. 

Citations:

"Lecture Part I" Victoria Vesna. Film.

Gattaca. Dir. Andrew Niccol. Continental Film, 1998.

"Weird Science: Biotechnology as Art Form." ARTnews. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2016.

http://lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/tca/

"Oron Catts, of Tissue Culture and Art, "Growing Neolifism" | The Sanctuary for Independent Media." Oron Catts, of Tissue Culture and Art, "Growing Neolifism" | The Sanctuary for Independent Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2016.