Life itself is a valid expressive medium that is currently being explored by artists who use biotechnology in their creative process. Artists like Marta De Menezes incorporate scientific methods to their art. In Nature? De Menezes altered the wing patterns of butterflies to create “artworks with a lifespan,” as the images she creates on butterfly’s wings die with them (Criado). Additionally, Eduardo Kac claimed Alba, a bunny genetically modified to express a GFP gene found naturally in jellyfish, to be an art piece. These are examples of controversial art made with biotechnology and animals, something long seen as an appropriate use of science.
Nature? (Silva)
GFP Bunny, (Kerstetter)
Questions then emerge about the limits society should impose on this practice. What are the ethical implications of modification (for art or otherwise), especially possible modifications of humans. These are important questions to ask, as this ability to combine organisms in an unlimited capacity is not far fetched. Not only is the technology available, as pointed out in “Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology,” it’s fairly accessible.
In some ways, recombinant technology has been ever present in society, beginning with practices like selective breeding of agricultural crops. Additionally, some biologists endorse the idea of horizontal recombination during the evolutionary process, stressing “the roles of merger, fusion, and recombination in evolutionary processes” (Levy 3). Because this process is based in the ‘natural’ it’s difficult to draw strict lines about what is and what is not appropriate.
Whatever limits are imposed will be pushed by those described in Kelly’s article as “Victorian Gentleman Scientist[s],” those who are above the system and have “access to the best tools and techniques” (Kelly 1). These are people like Elon Musk, who have the intellect, money, and social power to pursue science on their own terms. Recently his girlfriend Grimes tweeted that she was aiming for “a [neuro] chip by 2022” (Reilly). Additionally, the rich and powerful will be those able to push the limits in regards to selecting fetuses for certain traits. While people are comfortable taking steps to ensure their baby does not inherit genetic disease, it seems unethical to choose a child’s hair or eye color (Hercher).
Grimes and Musk (Fry)
Despite the interesting applications of biotechnology to art, it is an area filled with ethical dilemmas. Overall, having both scientists and artists working with this technology provides more lenses with which to view these problems, helping to ensure thoughtful regulation.
Criado, Lula. “Marta DE Menezes, creating artworks that literally live and die.” Clot, https://www.clotmag.com/biomedia/marta-de-menezes. Accessed 7 May 2021.
Fry, Naomi. “The musician Grimes and the Silicon Valley billionaire Elon Musk appeared together at the 2018 Met Gala.” The New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-appearances/the-trouble-with-elon-musk-and-grimes. Accessed 7 May 2021.
Hercher, Laura. “Designer Babies Aren’t Futuristic. They’re Already Here.” MIT Technology Review, https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/10/22/139478/are-we-designing-inequality-into-our-genes/. Accessed 7 May 2021.
Kelly, Chris. “Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology.” https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/1669262/files/176179887/download?wrap=1. Accessed 7 May 2021.
Kerstetter, Mark. “GFP Bunny.” Escape Into Life, https://www.escapeintolife.com/essays/what-is-contemporary-art-mark-kerstetter/. Accessed 7 May 2021.
Levy, Ellen. “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.” https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/1669262/files/176179889/download?wrap=1. Accessed 7 May 2021.
Reilly, Nick. “Grimes and Lil Uzi Vert Want to get ‘Brain Chips’ Together.” NME, https://www.nme.com/news/music/grimes-and-lil-uzi-vert-want-to-get-brain-chips-together-2875184. Accessed 7 May 2021.
Silva, Luis. “Nature?” Rhizome, https://rhizome.org/editorial/2008/aug/20/interview-with-marta-de-menezes/. Accessed 7 May 2021.
No comments:
Post a Comment