Week 5: Nanotechnology and Art
(1)
photograph after my Hamlet scene performance with my Shakespeare professor at UCLA
Having studied Shakespeare, and performed a scene from Hamlet in college, I found the connection to the ghost of Hamlet's father, in the reading (2), best furthered my understanding of how nanotechnology correlates with art. Since nano particles are invisible, the exhibit finds other ways for people to interact with them by allowing "A ghost of the mote [to] be seen in your peripheral vision but never head on" (Curtin1). Naturally a person would then continue to investigate but "The more [they] look the more invisible it becomes, look away and it remerges" (Curtin1). This also aludes to a philosophical theory about people overanalyzing and explaining that sometimes "the harder we look the more blurred our vision becomes" (Curtin1).
(3)
The most interesting application of nanotechnology I reviewed this week was the benefit in medicine. After watching Nanotech for Artists Part 4 (4) , I found two articles regarding nano medicine; one with a negative connotation and one with a more neutral outlook (5), informing the public about the drugs, stating quotations and facts.
(6)
The benefits for curing cancer cells by using nanotechnology to isolate the cancerous cells and avoiding poisoning all of the good cells are mentioned in the lecture, whereas the more negative article focuses on the question of whether these "nanochips could be forced on to Alzheimer’s patients or the elderly to prevent them from forgetting to take their medication" (Turbeville1) (7) and where we draw the line. After reading both of these articles I cannot help but still feel supportive when I hear about abraxane, the FDA approved cancer nanodrug and how Loreal cosmetics are investing in nanotechnology to improve their products.
REFERENCES:
(1) Degerstedt, Emma. Personal photograph. 13, March, 2014
(2) "art in the age of nanotechnology." Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2014. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.
(3) "." . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/01/17/technology/20080117_NANOART_SLIDESHOW_3.html>.
(4) "Nanotech Jim pt4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHCuZetAIhk>.
(5) Hough, Andrew. "New 'smart' pill tells patients when drugs dose due." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 28 July 0017. Web. 23 July 2014. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9019651/New-smart-pill-tells-patients-when-drugs-dose-due.html>.
(6) "HowStuffWorks "Nanotechnology Cancer Treatments"." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2014. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/modern-technology/gold-nanotech1.htm>.
(7) "The Arrival of Nanotech Medicine and What it Means for Health and Privacy." Activist Post:. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. <http://www.activistpost.com/2012/01/arrival-of-nanotech-medicine-and-what.html#!bn2AR5>.
Hi! Nice post! I thought your connection of nanotechnology to Hamlet was really clever and I like the first quote about the nano-particles being invisible. It reminds me of something I learned in chemistry where if you want to check where the electron is, you won't be able to, but when you don't check, you assume it's there. The effects of nano-particles can be magical and I think our future in nano-medicine looks promising.
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