Week+8+SCIENTIFIC+EYE+SLIDES

WEEK 8: THE SCIENTIFIC EYE

• Readings: Sturken & Cartwright, Practices of Looking, chapter 9, "Scientific Looking, Looking at Science".

Lecture Overview

• Topics Covered:

  • Medical history related to anatomical study and dissection.

  • Revisiting the clinical gaze (Foucault).

  • Representations of the womb.

Medical Imaging Techniques

• Modern Imaging:

  • Scanning Electron Microscope: Used to create highly detailed images of the body.

  • Fluorescence Microscopy: Allows capturing of neurons with enhanced clarity.

• COVID-19 Virus:

  • Examination of cellular infection processes, specifically within the trachea.

• Photographic Enhancements:

  • Use of color enhancements for clarity, producing surreal images of body interiors.

Historical Perspectives on Anatomy

• The One-Sex Model:

  • Concept by Galen describing physiological similarities between genders.

  • Focus on dual representations: "Turn outward the woman’s, turn inward, so to speak, and fold double the man’s."

The Four Humours

• Overview:

  • Historical concept characterizing four bodily fluids that govern health and temperament.

    • Blood (Air, Wet, HOT)

    • Yellow Bile (Fire, DRY)

    • Phlegm (Water, WET)

    • Black Bile (Earth, COLD)

• 16th Century Illustrations: Woodprints depicting the four humours.

Anatomical Dissection in Renaissance

• Context: Corresponds to discovery and exploration motifs (15th - 16th centuries).

• Criminal Cadavers:

  • 15th-century decree permitting the use of executed criminals for anatomical studies.

  • Legal avenues for body acquisition but issues with grave robbing due to high demand.

The Fabrica by Vesalius (1543)

• Significance: A richly illustrated anatomical book with over 300 illustrations.

  • Introduced the concept of direct observation in anatomy.

  • Creation of anatomical atlases as artifacts of empirical observation.

Notable Illustrations

• Flayed Man: Illustration from Valverde depicting a man holding his own skin (1556).

Establishing Anatomy as a Discipline

• Shift in Perspective: Vesalius’ work emphasized active dissection and observational studies.

• Anatomical Education: Use of anatomical theaters for teaching surgical procedures.

Societal Context of Medical Discoveries

• Artistic Interpretation: Eakins’ portraits reflecting medical clinical authority.

  • Foucault's Concepts: Clinical gaze and panoptic authority discussed in The Birth of the Clinic.

Anatomical Wax Modeling

• Development: Late 18th-century use in teaching anatomy.

  • Addressed body preservation and the issue of securing cadavers.

Contemporary Medical Imaging

• Technology Advances:

  • PET scans and sonograms as modern equivalents to earlier anatomical studies.

  • Used for classifying brain activity and observing fetal development.

Classification Systems in 18th & 19th Centuries

• Phrenology:

  • Emerged in the late 18th century; based on skull structure correlated with personality.

  • Symbolic systems believed to mark character traits on physical appearances.

• Physiognomy:

  • Study believed that one’s character manifest on their physical appearance.

  • Established foundational aspects for future scientific inquiry.

Criminology and Physical Characteristics

• Lombroso's Theories:

  • 19th-century classification of criminals based on physical traits.

  • Illustrated examples underscore societal stereotypes regarding criminality.

The Role of Imaging in Anatomy and Medicine

• First X-ray: Demonstrated significant technological advancement in visualizing human anatomy.

  • Reflected shift towards empirical medical practices and understanding of the human body.