The Value of Artistic Knowledge

Instructions: With a partner, explore how each Area of Knowledge provides knowledge about the same subject: cancer.
Stereotypically, students often regard knowledge in other areas more highly than knowledge in the arts. The goal of this assignment
is to examine the type of knowledge the arts provide and consider ways in which it is equally or potentially more valuable than
knowledge in other AOKs.

ALL STUDENTS SUBMIT INDIVIDUALLY

1) Mathematics: The mathematics of cancer: integrating quantitative models | Nature Reviews Cancer

Question Answer

What kind of knowledge does this AOK It provides scientific answers and it uses math and science both to draw conclusions
provide about Cancer? about the disease.

Why is this knowledge valuable? It is empirical knowledge that evaluates info from an objective standpoint.

2) Natural Sciences: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

Question Answer

What kind of knowledge does this AOK The article covers predispositions to the disease and breaks down the causes and
provide about Cancer? characteristics of different kinds of cancer. It delves deeper into “cancer”

Why is this knowledge valuable? It is valuable because it does not refer to the disease as “cancer” and it breaks down
the disease further.
How is the knowledge produced in this AOK it does not refer to the disease as “cancer” and it breaks down the disease further.
different from the last?

3) Human Sciences (Econ: The Economics of Colon Cancer - PubMed (nih.gov) (Psychology: A study of depression and anxiety
in cancer patients - PubMed (nih.gov)
Question Answer

What kind of knowledge does this AOK It provides experimental knowledge that covers the mental effects of the disease. It
provide about Cancer? gives us empirical knowledge: 68% suffer from some form of mental health problem.

Why is this knowledge valuable? IT gives us valuable knowledge as to a different effect of the disease.

How is the knowledge produced in this AOK It covers mental effects of the disease.
different from the last?

4) History: The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee (Scribner) - The Pulitzer Prizes
Question Answer

What kind of knowledge does this AOK It provides the knowledge of how cancer was reacted to in former days.
provide about Cancer?

Why is this knowledge valuable? It shows how cancer was treated in years prior

How is the knowledge produced in this AOK It provides a historical perspective

different from the last?

5) Art: Stromae - quand c'est ? - YouTube

Question Answer
What kind of knowledge does Art provide
about Cancer?
Do sense perception, language, and
imagination perform different roles in the
arts compared to other areas of knowledge?
How is the knowledge produced in Art
different from the other AOKs? Consider
EACH AOK.
Why is artistic knowledge valuable?
(Claim, evidence, elaboration, implications
are expected in this response)
Art is an expression of emotion and by using art it conveys the emotional effects of
cancer
We perceive different senses at the same time and for example this one was a video
and it contributes to the over all effect of cancer and how it affected one artist to the
point that they decides to make an entire art piece dedicated tot he diseases effects
It appeals to the emotions differently, it is meant to invoke the emotions and make
one feel a certain way.
Artistic knowledge is valuable because it is an extreme expression of emotion. With
art, there is less of a reliance on empirical knowledge and instead we rely on a
much more subjective approach rather than an objective approach which would
usually be pursued by the sciences and histories. This leads to the conclusion that
art is a medium to express one's raw emotions and it does not have any basis in
fact, however, art has a basis in fact. It is drawn from real life experiences and is
inspired by real life.