Event One

 April 22, 2021

Event One: Fantastic Voyage (1966)

    The first event I decided to attend was the watch party for the movie Fantastic Voyage (1966). Before the class started the movie, we moved from Watch Party to Zoom because of technical difficulties. For the watch party, we all counted down and started the movie at the same time because the TA was having trouble with the audio. The movie began with a scientist, Jan Benes, suffering a brain injury due to a severe car crash. Benes was attacked because of his knowledge about how to shrink objects, including humans, for a brief amount of time. 

Picture of shrink technology created by Benes

    In order to save his life, a group of scientists were shrunk using his technology to clear a clot that formed in his brain. The scientists were shrunk in a submarine and entered into his bloodstream where they used lasers to break apart the clot. Through this journey, the scientists had a battle within their own group and faced other challenges within Benes's body, but in the end, were able to save his life.

Picture of Jan Benes during the mission

Picture of the crew trapped because of an overheating engine 

    This movie had some apparent relations to this week's lecture about medicine, art, and technology. One of the first things I noticed in the movie was the use of the x-ray on Benes. In Professor Victoria Vesna's lecture, she talks about how all three concepts intertwine using the example of the x-ray. The invention of the x-ray rocked the scientific world and introduced newer technologies that would allow further noninvasive ways of examination of the human anatomy.  

Picture of x-ray and the modern use in today's society

    Another way they weaved medicine and art was through how the scientists mapped out their route around Benes's body. The scientists used art by mapping out the major arteries they would travel within which incorporate both medicine and art.

Picture of major arteries in the human body

    The movie, Fantastic Voyage (1966), was a good example of how medicine and technology were intertwined through the form of cinematic art. This week's lecture went hand in hand with the science fiction movie for this week's watch party. I would recommend this event to other classmates because the movie was interesting and scientific!

References:

Club, Wolfman's Cult Film, et al. “Fantastic Voyage (1966) Microscopic Submarine Travels Through Inner Space.” Wolfmans Cult Film, 14 Jan. 2019, wolfmanscultfilmclub.wordpress.com/2019/01/12/fantastic-voyage-1966-microscopic-submarine-travels-through-inner-space/. 

Cooper, Joseph H. “To the Brain and Back - ‘Fantastic Voyage’ Pulsed by Anatomy from Asimov.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffpost.com/entry/to-the-brain-and-back-fan_b_12443018.

Lynne Eldridge, MD. “How Chest X-Rays Can Sometimes Misdiagnose Lung Cancer.” Verywell Health, www.verywellhealth.com/chest-x-rays-for-lung-cancer-diagnosis-4107046.

“Other Dimensions: Fantastic Voyage (1966).” Detroit Institute of Arts Museum, www.dia.org/events/other-dimensions-fantastic-voyage-1966.

Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/psjnQarHOqQ.” Lecture. Medicine pt2. Youtube, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ>.