Arts and Science Converge Through Dance, Ferocious Beauty: Genome

I would like to share with you today a video of the presentation about the performance by Liz Lerman' s Dance Exchange troupe exploring knowledge of the human genome through dance, "Ferocious Beauty, Genome". This presentation describing the performance process took place through Case Western Reserve University at the Renaissance Hotel on May 2, 2008. CM

From Youtube:
"Choreographer Liz Lerman discussed and showed excerpts from her highly acclaimed performance project, Ferocious Beauty: Genome. From folk tales to scientists as choreographers, the piece takes an unconventional look at the nature of the genome and its impact. Lerman asks tough questions about the ethical, legal and social implications of genomics: ....If we have the capacity to select what we want in our genes, what will happen to diversity? If perfection is possible, who decides what it is? "

"The development of Ferocious Beauty: Genome initiated an unprecedented collaboration between dance and science, as the Dance Exchange partnered with a group of scientist and humanities scholars from institutions such as the University of Chicago, University of Illinois and Princeton and Stanford universities, as well as Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Institutes of Health and the Genetics and Public Policy Center. Many of these advisors appear in the performance in videotaped interviews, representing viewpoints on the uses of genetic research that range from curing disease to maintaining bio-diversity to fighting terrorism.
Dance Exchange members and scientists learned from each other as the work evolved. Scientific collaborators provided accurate and objective information and the Dance Exchange filtered the information through their methodology for making dances, a process in which the company members engage as full collaborators."
above quote from Press Release


Sit in on this interesting lecture with video clips from the performance.Front row seats now at Youtube:

Watch it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF_JYiPQToU

More info at: www.danceexchange.org.

Art, Humanities and Medicine Theme at Global Health Research Conference

We recently posted an announcement about The Sixth Annual Global Health Research Conference held at The University of Toronto. The exhibition explored transformative modes of conceiving the body, and its relationship to global health as well as the intersections of the arts, sciences and medicine. Below are excerpts from a recently published article
written by Brett Popplewell at The Toronto Star (June 7, 2008).

"For more than a century, the physician has been viewed as a robot with a scientific mind and, for the most part, a wooden bedside manner. But with medical schools paying more attention to arts and the humanities, a new breed of doctor – one that is both scientist and artist – is beginning to emerge in hospitals and clinics. The re-emerging significance of art and the humanities to modern medicine was the central theme at last week's sixth annual global health research conference at the University of Toronto.

"We are more than just repositories of evidence-based knowledge," says Dr. James Orbanski, a family physician, former president of Médicins Sans Frontières and the keynote speaker at the conference.

"The phenomenon, to use the broadest term, of a person who is both a doctor and a cellist, or a doctor and a poet, or a doctor and an artist, demonstrates this perfectly."

Orbanski, whose work as a physician in Rwanda was recently documented by the National Film Board, says people like Vincent Lam, the Giller Award winning doctor-turned-novelist, are examples of how the interests of many physicians often transcend the barrier between the arts and sciences.

Before the medical revolution of the 19th century, the study of the human body was as connected to the fine arts as it was to medicine.

With the advent of chemistry, biology, laboratories and new technologies, the traditional art of medicine was revolutionized. Ill-advised practices like bloodletting and purging became less common as cures for everything from consumption to syphilis.

As the scientific understanding of bacteria and viruses improved, science's importance to medicine increased and the teaching of what some refer to as the art of medicine – the human communication between doctor and patient – dwindled. As art and the humanities became less important, doctors with poor bedside manners proliferated.

Until recently, Canadian medical students had to learn their human touch during residency (medical school's version of an apprenticeship) by watching the interaction between senior doctors and their patients.

Dr. Peter Singer, a published poet and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, says when he went through medical school 25 years ago, the curriculum was so focused on science that doctors would graduate without ever having been taught about medical ethics and other humanities.

"(I)t was very much focused on science and technology and the scientific understanding of anatomy, physiology (then)," he says.

"We would be taught in lecture halls filled with 200 people and have information thrown at us on medical science.

"I think we've come a very great distance in medical education in the last 25 years on the issues of balancing science and humanistic concerns," he says.

But beyond the humanities, what role, if any, do the fine arts have in modern medicine?

Singer says a doctor's knowledge of poetry and music helps them to understand the human suffering often involved in medicine.After all, a physician well versed in science and technology who also understands poetry is likely more in touch with the humanistic side of life and death, and thus better suited to care for patients on their deathbeds.

Visual art and music have also been recognized for their therapeutic powers and are used in some clinics where patients improve their mental health through painting and where the music of composers like Bach is used to reduce stress."

It is encouraging to see more universities and medical schools incorporating the arts and humanities into health programming. At this blog, "Arts and Health Crossing Borders", you will read many posts and stories about progressive programming at the intersections of the arts and medicine/health currently underway across the country. I was pleased to read this article in the Toronto Star. Such news is an indicator that the work continues to gain momentum.

CM

For full article read more at:
http://www.thestar.com/article/438989

Convergence of Arts and Sciences University of Toronto Global Health Research Conference

University of Toronto artists (students, faculty, alumni and staff) from all disciplines are invited to participate in the Stone Lobby Exhibition IV as part of the Centre for International Health 6th Annual Global Health Conference. The exhibition aims to consider transformative modes of conceiving the body, and its relationship to global health. Completed works, works in progress, or work proposals are accepted. All mediums will be considered, including drawing, painting, and digital media. Sculpture, installation, and performance art are particularly encouraged.


Submission Information: Submit sample of your work or proposal to Misty Dawn MacMillan mistydawn.macmillan@yahoo.ca.
Information: Please contact j.kopelow@sympatico.ca


More info at: http://intlhealth.med.utoronto.ca/

Northampton Conference Arts and Health, Drama in Research and Performance Highlighted

We heard today from Dr. Ross Prior about an
Arts and Health Conference in Northampton.
We are pleased to blog post this news for The University of Northampton,
CM.


Inspiring Transformations: The Arts and Health
Conference University of Northampton UK

An international conference hosted in collaboration with the Schools of The Arts and Health in September will focus on the interactive relationships of The Arts, Health and Sciences. The UK event will bring together professionals across disciplines to share research and experiences, explore the potential of partnerships, and establish ongoing collaborations.

Date: September 3-6, 2007
Location: The University of Northampton, UK (Avenue Campus)

Abstract deadline: June 1, 2007

This conference will especially be of interest to:
Applied theatre practitioners/researchers
Health professionals
Social scientists
Arts/theatre practitioners
Biomedical scientists
Arts/drama therapists
Neuroscientists
Psychologists
Theatre companies


Keynote speakers:

Gavin Clayton, director, MK, Arts for Health
Dr. Gaynor Sadio, Occupational Therapist, University of Brighton
Professor Bill Ribbans, Ph.D. Honorary Orthopaedic Surgeon to the English National Ballet
Professor Robert J. Landy, Ph.D. Drama Therapist, New York University

Website: http://www.northampton.ac.uk/artsandhealth/

For general inquiries please contact: Karen Haines,
telephone: +44 (0) 1604 892373, email: karen.haines@northampton.ac.uk