Landscape—Ambitious, In-Depth Assignment; Topic plan from today on.

For this project you could have either chosen to create a wearable piece of art, perform an art performance, or do both. I chose to do an art performance.

Topic: Targeted Genome Editing Technology; CRISPR Cas9

When this topic was introduced to me I had to think about what I wanted to represent, something that represents an actual landscape or the body as a landscape. I chose the body as a landscape. The way I came to this topic was because about a day before we were assigned this topic I listened to an hour long podcast about Genome editing. I decided that I wanted to explore this topic further and was very interested in it. When I begin a new project I like to brainstorm through ideas in my sketchbook. Here are some picture of the ideas I jotted down in my sketchbook. 

When I started to develop my performance, I ran through many many different ideas. One of the biggest challenges I faced was trying to understand the difference between a scene and a performance. I came to the understanding that a performance has to use the body as a medium and manipulates the artist or an object in some way. An art performance can also incorporate the audience. My first idea was to do a performance that was silent. I was going to act as the scientist and a group of my friends was going to line up and come to me and I would inject them with something and modify them. I recorded this at home and here are some pictures from that video 

I did not like the outcome of the video and I was also not completely connived it was documentation of a performance. I then decided to perform live in class. I was going to do the same routine using volunteers from class but then I thought of interaction with the audience. I wanted to integrate everyone into my performance. This is when I came up with the idea of performing a presentation where I talk to the audience as if I am a scientist presenting new discoveries. I also wanted everyone in the class to become a part of my performance without them even realizing. This is when I came up with the idea to cover the classroom number plaque with my own labeled "Targeted Genome Editing Lab". This now meant that everyone who entered the room was a part of my performance due to their presence and interactions in my lab. 

As soon as I asked permission from Kathleen to place this outside, I began playing the part of being the Scientist, John Medina. I introduced myself to Kathleen and Don, and a couple of people around the classroom. I explained how they are going to enjoy my presentation and the findings I have made in the research I did on Genome Editing Technology. 

Once it came time to presenting my project, I introduced myself and began. I tried to make it seem as a TED Talk. 

 Link to performance documentation: Art performance documentation

Breaking down my presentation: 

In the introduction of my speech, I gave a little context as to what the CRISPR Cas9 machine was and what it does. I also gave context of time to place myself, along with everyone in the class, in the future. 

Once I began my enhancements, I started out with enhancements that clearly have a positive outcome and everyone would not dispute that it would improve their quality of life; healing of a broken appendage, and perfect vision. 

The last two enhancements were more controversial and many would argue are not necessary; developing a six pack of abs and blue eyes. This also falls into taking this too far without fully understanding the negative outcomes that can occur. 

The last part of my performance I began my closing speech, however, I ended up dying due to the excessive use of the genome editing machine; CRISPR Cas9 (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats).

Message I was trying to send: 

This performance portrays an extremely exaggerated miracle machine that heals you in seconds. I am not trying to tell the viewer that this is what our technology will look like. I was trying to outline the fact that we are constantly trying to create an idealistic view of ourselves no matter the negative consequences. I also want to bring up the fact that many times in our history, when a new technology is developed, we tend to rush into the use of that technology without properly understanding the negative and positive effects of the technology. I also wanted to talk about the fact that, even in our society today, we are trying to create an idealistic view of ourselves no matter what the cost.