One of the first encounters I had with medical-related art was learning about Rorschach tests. Subjects would be presented with inkblots that were designed to have no immediate resemblance to any commonly-recognized pattern, and asked to describe what they saw. Based on the answer and its connotations, psychologists were supposed to be able to infer something about the subject's mental state. Rorschach tests were also meant to fill in the gaps where patients were unable to verbally describe their feelings; the Rorschach test capitalizes on pareidolia, or the phenomenon of associating the abstract with the concrete through the influence of one's own experiences.
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| An example of the pareidolia phenomenon. Do you see what I see? |
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| The first of the original 10 Rorschach cards. |
What's interesting about the Rorschach tests' proliferation into the world of art is that the original creator only produced 10 images, but now, if you search for Rorschach test images, there will be uncountably more images available. In fact, there are even Rorschach inkblot generators available through the wonders of technology. Why is this?
I personally believe there are a few factors that play into this. One: the Rorschach inkblots are abstract yet structured enough to be recognizable as a genre. Unlike skulls- which might require more technical affinity to illustrate recognizably- or abstraction to the level of Pollock's works- which could, to the untrained eye, be confused for a strangely splattered canvas- to those in the know, imitation Rorschach inkblots are quite recognizable, as they are symmetrical, monochromatic, and abstract.
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| Just one of many, many Rorschach stock images available. Once you get used to the basic design, I bet showing you any more images similar to this one would be recognized as a Rorschach-influenced design. |
Two: on an objective level, I believe psychological disorders are more romanticized in media and entertainment than physical disabilities. That is not to say that either should be romanticized, or that either are more manageable than the other, but one has to look no further than famous movies such as Requiem for a Dream, Fight Club, American Psycho, etc, to find cults surrounding these movies that ostensibly are not meant to have their protagonists admired (or, for a more chilling real-life example, see the fan clubs for famous serial killers). Maybe viewers have a morbid fascination with the hidden-in-plain-sight nature of mental illnesses, or maybe there is something more aesthetically pleasing about insomniacs and serial killers. Whatever the reason, Rorschach tests may inhabit that same realm of the romanticized and recreated.
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| A comic character from Watchmen- aptly named Rorschach- who is a violent antihero who also serves as a moral measuring stick for the other characters. Has become a cult favorite... |
And that is a good segue into my final point- Rorschach tests have, in some ways, become regarded as art instead of a medical medium. You can buy framed prints online; you can find t-shirts, comic book characters, music, all based off of what was originally a method of diagnosis for the mentally ill.
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| Available print for buy when I looked up "Rorschach Art" on Google Shopping! |
I'm not necessarily put off by the concept, as I've always been fascinated with art relating to the functioning of the body, but it's interesting to see art related to medicine and the mind. There are, of course, depictions of art about mental illnesses from artists who suffer from such disorders, but what's unique to me about Rorschach tests is that they have no inherent meaning. There is no association you are supposed to make with a specific affliction, nor is there an obvious narrative weaved into the splatters of black. Instead, Rorschach art, like its progenitor, reflects the viewer's mindset.
References
Casini, S. (2011). Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) as mirror and Portrait: Mri configurations between science and the arts. Configurations, 19(1), 73-99. doi:10.1353/con.2011.0008
Duckles, I. (1970, January 01). Pareidolia! Retrieved April 24, 2021, from https://blogorganon.blogspot.com/2012/09/pareidolia.html
Ingber, D. E. (1998). The Architecture of life. New York.
Rorschach test framed print by Nadav jonas. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2021, from https://fineartamerica.com/featured/rorschach-test-nadav-jonas.html?product=framed-print
Rorschach.generator. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2021, from https://openprocessing.org/sketch/418494
Tyson, P. (2001, March 27). The hippocratic oath today. Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/hippocratic-oath-today/
Vareikaite, Vaiva (2017). Retrieved April 24, 2021, from https://www.boredpanda.com/depression-through-art/?utm_source=duckduckgo&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=organic
Hi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog post and learning about your perspective of med tech and art. Your example of mental illness and how doctors used Rorschach art to diagnose problems or states of mental health was very intriguing. I remember seeing these images growing up in school and was fascinated how ordinary everyday objects or abstract visuals could stimulate an association in our brain. These patterns are visually aesthetic and has since transferred into the art world. I look forward to looking at more Rorschach art!
Cheers,
Dave Ho
The Rorschach test is an interesting connection between art and medicine. It is interesting how the aesthetics of the ink blot has interested artists, film makers, and doctors. While mental illnesses are not often represented on screen, many people know about the Rorschach test. I hope that more art mediums related to the medicine and mind can be used to spread more awareness on mental illnesses, even if it was not the original purpose such as the Rorschach tests.
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