Dr. Carin Berokwitz explored the connections between art, science, and religion. I enjoyed her effort to present the material in a clear, interesting, and accessible fashion through storytelling coupled with her research. Much of her research and talk focused on the anatomist Sir Charles Bell during the early 1800s in London. Bell taught anatomy before medical education was formally standardized. He placed a particular emphasis on showing the body through dissections, wax models, and sketches. Many of Bells sketches were beautiful and exceedingly intricate. Additionally, Bell believed there was a deep connection between eye and hand. Since Bell’s time, medical training evolved to include a comprehensive curriculum and systematic teaching method. Additionally, Gray’s Anatomy, THE anatomical textbook for students, was first published in 1858. It featured numerous illustrations with labels imbed in the images. This made it one of the most efficient teaching tools. For my response paper, I will focus on the effects of Bell’s work in the present day.
During the Q & A session, an audience member asked whether or not Dr. Berokwitz expected to see more realistic illustrations (like Bell’s) in future textbooks. Dr. Berokwitz responded that she did not expect to see a return to intricate illustrations. In part, she attributed her response to an education system that begins teaching simplified versions of science very early on. At each level of education, there is an increase in understanding. But, the early stages of understanding are too simplified while the later stages of understanding are often too complex to be fully represented with an image. I think it’s very interesting that today we view intricate anatomical drawings more as art than science. The precision and detail of artistic forms that Bell created are viewed as superfluous. However, one question I have about this is the effect of computer modeling. Given that we are able to create very accurate AND precise models of human functions, will these fill part of the role that Bell’s drawing filled in the early 19th century? Will we use such intricate computer simulations and models in lieu of drawings? Are these models art in their own right? Is their artistic value limited by their functionality?
Despite the increasing obsolescence of Bell’s detailed drawings, his approach to science seems to affect medical education today. Dr. Berokwitz explained that many major medical schools including Yale introduced a visual arts component to their educational requirements. This speaks to Bell’s early influence in the medical field. It also highlights the importance of presenting information through clear and understandable mediums. While the medical field is heavily based in “hard science”, conveying treatment to patients and other doctors can be dramatically improved through effective communication- whether that be through an image or a computer model.
In conclusion, Sir Charles Bell’s creation of artistic drawings and wax preservations proved to be an effective teaching tool in the early 19th century. Today, some of those elements are incorporated through computer modeling and simulations. To some extent, they are also incorporated in medical education and textbooks.