I have never been interested in nanotechnology. It was actually very hard to pay attention to the lectures this unit because of my lack in interest. In their article “The Nanomeme Syndrome,” Professor Vesna and Professor Gimzewski explain why I, and probably many other people, have a lack in nanotechnology: “One thing is certain however, as soon as we confront the scale that nanotechnology works within, our minds short circuit. The scale becomes too abstract in relation to human experience” (Gimzewski and Vesna). Even though I have no interest in these matters, I still have to come to terms that nanotechnology is all around me. For example, even the makeup and sunscreen I wear every day contains nanotechnology (Gimzewski). I also thought about all the possibilities that nanotechnology has to offer, for the better or for the worse.
Microscopic robot that can travel through the human body.
Nanotechnology offers so many possibilities to both artists and scientists. For example, Richard Feynman want to write 25,000 pages of Encyclopedia Britannica on a pinhead (Gimzewski). This leads to artwork that is made on the nanolevel. I think nanoart can create really cool interactive exhibits. In addition, in the PBS Making Stuff Smaller, “[Scientists] are developing microscopically small robots that travel into the body’s deepest reaches to diagnose, treat, and even destroy deadly diseases” (Progue, NOVA). Fortunately, scientists can keep finding ways to further develop medicine to help people through nanotechnology.
Vesna & Gimzewski’s Zero@wavefunction art project. “Here we created together a piece that allows the audience to manipulate the buckminsterfullerene (buckyball) using their shadow” (Vesna).
Despite the good, nanotechnology does not come without possible consequences. “In both the philosophical and visual sense, ‘seeing is believing’ does not apply to nanotechnology, for there is nothing even remotely visible to create proof of existence” (Gimzewski and Vesna). This made me think about how in the future, people can create nanoweapons. We could be living in a world where our bodies can be invaded by microscopic robots, and we wouldn’t even notice.
Works Cited
Gimzewski, Jim and Victoria Vesna. “The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact and fiction in the construction of a new science.” Arts.ucla.edu. Web. Accessed 22 May 2017.
Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotech Jim pt1.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. Accessed 22 May 2017.
Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotech Jim pt3.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. Accessed 22 May 2017.
Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotech Jim pt4.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. Accessed 22 May 2017.
Your idea about seeing is believing and nanoweapons are very interesting. I couldn't agree more that the combination of nanotechnology and art often come in forms that are very controversial.
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