Topic outline

  • General

    • ME33AM Fine Art and Medicine

      Credits:30

        Places: 20


      This course allows you to explore visual art and its relationship to anatomy and medicine through practical artistic engagement. You will be encouraged to explore your artistic influences and experiment in any and all media.

      The course will involve weekly  lecture/seminars on key artists/concepts that might influence your work. You will create an artistic portfolio and reflect on influences and feedback and document progress towards a final exhibition.

      There will also be visits to support the students planning the exhibition and they will make the arrangements for this exhibition. You will be required to submit photographs of work and subsequently your actual work. Hopefully there will be future opportunities to have virtual exhibitions and display actual work.

      Outline of the course 2021

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  • What skills does this course develop?

      • An alternative perspective upon medicine/health to that normally provided on medical course
      • A capacity for independent, conceptual and creative thinking including
      • idea generation and creative development of these
      • An intellectual curiosity and a willingness to question accepted wisdom and to be open to new ideas exploration of visual outcomes through a range of drawing and mixed media techniques
      • Observation and critical skills
      • A capacity for self reflection, self discovery and personal development including formulating reasoned responses to the critical judgement of others
      • Time management and working with others to complete the collective tasks
      • An appreciation of the approaches of the arts towards medicine/health
      • An ability to participate in the creation of new knowledge and understanding through creation of works of art

  • What will the timetable be like?

      • LIVE IN PERSON SESSIONS (Mandatory attendance)
        • Weekly 2hr drawing sessions
        • Weekly 1hr  Reflect and Share sessions

      • LIVE SESSIONS IN PERSON/COLLABORATE (mandatory attendance)
        • Weekly 1hr interactive seminar on topics in art and anatomy
        • Weekly 1hr Local Artist talks and Q&A
      • ASYNCHRONOUS TASKS (Mandatory)
        • Weekly practical guided art tasks including life drawing, anatomical drawing using mixed media techniques
        • Weekly supportive videos and recordings on topics in art and anatomy
        • Contribution to course discussions sharing images, ideas and reflections
      • LIVE 1:1 FORMATIVE FEEDBACK IN PERSON/TEAMS (Mandatory attendance)
        • One to one portfolio discussion sessions with course coordinator twice during course week 3 and 5
      • Optional visits to local exhibitions and galleries to consider both the work and how it is exhibited 

      The live sessions will take place on Mondays and Fridays usually.

      Alongside timetabled sessions you will be required to work independently developing your artistic portfolio and exploring your particular area of interest developing your ideas to create final exhibition

  • How will I be assessed?

    • Formative

      1. Feedback will be provided each week during sessions through tutor and peer critique of work
      2. Submission of portfolio (week 3)
      3. Submission of plan for final piece (week 5)

      Submissions will be given oral 1:1 feedback and written comments from course tutors

      Summative

      1. Artistic reflective portfolio  including 300 word summary (50%)
      2. Final outcome(s), exhibition labels and artist statement (200words) podcast (50%)

      Further information about the assessment criteria will be given out during the course

  • What did previous students think about this course?

    • SMMSN Facebook Post 2020

      Fine art and Medicine by Cameron Thomas

      SMMSN BLOG: November 2019

      How art and medicine have influenced each other by Santiago Trainor Moss

      Student view 21-22

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      Student view 20-21

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      Student comments

      "The course was challenging and took you outside of your comfort zone. It let you be creative in your own way and you could stay true to your style but also challenge yourself which I think is an important aspect we learn throughout medicine so it tied in nicely in that aspect. "

      "The vast range of topics and art explored gave us the opportunity to branch out and experiment with new media and styles. Learning about the links between art and science/anatomy was also incredibly interesting and has been very rewarding to learn about."

      "It was a wonderful opportunity to try something again I hadn't done in years and is probably my favourite block in medical school so far. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the creative side of art and having specific time set aside to be able to do it again was fantastic."

      "This was a very enjoyable and interesting course. Tutor enthusiasm for the subject and approach to the classes meant that there was a fun working environment, where we could seek advice and improve our technical skills also."

  • Anything else I should consider?

    • You need to have a degree of artistic experience ideally Higher or A Level art but please discuss with course coordinator if you are interested but do not have formal qualifications.

      You will need an A4 Sketchbook as the basis for your artistic portfolio. Basic materials only will be required during the online sessions (Paper, Charcoal etc...) but you may have to purchase other artistic materials to work with independently and for preparation of final pieces and exhibition.

  • What kind of artistic work have students done?

  • Where can I get more information?

    • If you are interested in taking ME33AM Fine Arts and Medicine, you should directly contact Leeanne Bodkin leeannebodkin@abdn.ac.uk

  • Useful links