2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

To what extent does Patricia Piccinini challenge our perspective on the ethics of bioengineering?

nonetheless prompts the individual to question and refine his or her virtues and code of ethics.

Piccinini’s global impact-

Recently, more than ever, artists have begun to make art with the intent of increasing and challenging cultural/political awareness in modern society. Examples of this can be seen in Norman Rockwell’s piece The Problem we all live with (1964) commenting on the racism and segregation of African Americans in the United States, or Barbara Kruger’s We Don’t Need Another Hero (1986) which speaks on themes of gender roles and male supremacy. (M, 2016)

Fig. 6 The Problem we all live with 1964 Painting Oil on Canvas 91 cm x 150 cm

Although these artists express their ideas surrounding these political and cultural issues, it is important to question what determines the success or effectiveness of this art. Although biological engineering has been prevalent in the medical field with controversial practices in stem cell therapy and cloning it is not a phenomenon that is consistently headlining the world. However, the significance of this phenomenon in potentially allowing humans to create new necessary resources, whilst also potentially harming and exploiting cognitive beings helps extrapolate the success of these works.

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