The molecular gaze

About this book

"The gene is a biological construction, but as the genetic revolution has progressed it has also become a cultural icon with symbolic and metaphoric associations. Its cultural meaning, reflected in popular culture and visual art, has become independent of its biological definition, thus expressing many of the issues emerging from the genetic revolution. That the complex and abstract science of molecular genetics has achieved this status is remarkable, and it has provided a rich source of imagery and ideas for contemporary artists. The Molecular Gaze: Art in the Genetic Age explores the works produced by these "sci-artists" as well as the moral and bioethical issues that they address. Suzanne Anker and Dorothy Nelkin provide insight into the social and ethical meanings of this important science through the gaze of artists and their visual interpretations, illustrating their discussions with a wide range of contemporary art. And they suggest the ways in which DNA representations relate to archetypal images that have appeared throughout the history of art."--Jacket.