Week 6 || Art + Biotechnology

Life itself is an art. Yet, there are so many components and facets of life that make it what it is. In fact, the presence of biotechnology, art and science are combined to a singular medium that reconciles humanity and technology.

For example, the human body requires certain nutrients to sustain itself and survive. It is a true art form to be able to provide your body with the proper caloric and nutritional needs necessary for survival. It is even more so an art to take these foods and transform then into something even more desirable to eat with various flavors and spices. Yet, science runs so prevalently when it comes to food. As stated by Gary Wenk, “contents of our diets can interact with our neurons to influence brain function…” This statement further supports that consumption is a science. While flavoring food to create culinary masterpieces can be an art, it can be a science since these spices “may contain psychoactive chemicals that can alter the function of the brain.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx953M-tpp4

However, the art and science of food consumption and production can be taken a step further. According to the Seed magazine, genetically modified food can add crops and produce with environmental impact to enhance the nutritional intake of the food. HOwever, there can potentially be a lot of ethical issues raised with the genetic modification of food. For example, some people view genetically modified foods as a means of potentially ending world hunger by being able to produce large quantities with less resources. However, the safety and integrity of the food will be questionable. Health-wise, genetically modified food may not be safe long-term.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6us9kHHSNwk

Although life itself is a medium of the expression of art, there should be regulation in regards to what we modify genetically to preserve the sanctity of the beauty of life, which is ultimately preserving the purity of the art of life. Genetic engineering food and modifying the DNA structure of certain produce items is a scientific means of trying to manipulate natural art that does not need to be re-structured.There should be restrictions on how much DNA is manipulated in biotechnology in order to preserve the purity and sanctity of life. Human creativity does not need to be limited but rather re-define and re-shaped to provide the safest and purest form of art without the need of manipulating life to achieve that. Because as soon as you manipulate life to create “art” that you desire, then the “art” form is no longer pure but rather tainted. Art should remain as pure as it can be.

References:

“Genetically Modified Food.” Financial Tribune, First Iranian English Economic Daily, Iran, 18 Aug. 2016, goo.gl/VsrcD2.

javahippo. “McDonald's Food Expirament.” YouTube, YouTube, 12 June 2007, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6us9kHHSNwk.

“Revival Field – Mel Chin.” Bio – Mel Chin, melchin.org/oeuvre/revival-field.

Stutz, Bruce. “Seed Magazineabout.” On Overconfidence § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM, seedmagazine.com/content/article/wanted_gm_seeds_for_study/.

Wenk, Gary. “Seed Magazineabout.” On Overconfidence § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM, seedmagazine.com/content/article/this_is_your_brain_on_food/.

RoyalSociety. “What Is Genetic Modification?” YouTube, YouTube, 24 May 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx953M-tpp4.