Surgery in the media - State of the art analysis

The media today is fraught with news and articles on surgery. There is a large cosmetic surgery industry, and surgical procedures are constantly developing and improving.

Image: Hearst Magazine. (2007). Toys you pestered your parents for. Available: http://www.handbag.com/celebrity/entertainment/gadgets/toys-you-pestered-your-parents-for-69434. Last accessed 08th Nov

The operation game shown above is a world famous example of surgery in the popular media. I remember playing it as a kid, as I'm sure many people my age will if they read this article. It is interesting to look back on it now and relate it to actual surgical procedures!

The game acts not only as entertainment but as a very basic form of education about the human anatomy. Shown below is a reskinned version of the game with a Shrek theme to 'reinvent' it to sell more effectively with a popular franchise attached.

This method of simplifying something in a game to be family friendly is often adopted today by smartphone games. 

Image: Hasbro. (2011). Shrek 4 Operation Game from Hasbro. Available: http://www.cheaptoys.co.uk/shrek-4-operation-game/. Last accessed 08th Nov 2011

Television programmes that include surgery range from dramatic to comedic, factual and fictional.

Image: Fanpop. (2006-2011). Scrubs. Available: http://www.fanpop.com/spots/scrubs/images/34323/title/scrubs-cast-wallpaper. Last accessed 08/11/2011.

Scrubs is a popular example of the media making a light hearted series out of an initially serious place, as hospitals are often linked with bad experiences. Although a comedy, it still informs the viewer about certain aspects of the lives of medical staff, such as night shifts, having to become emotionally detached, and other issues.

Image: IMDB. (1994-2011). ER (TV Series 1994–2009). Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108757/. Last accessed 08/11/2011.

Above is a poster showing the cast of ER - a more serious incarnation of the medical drama. ER addressed issues such as the social lives of the medical staff, and the effects of their work on their social habits and how they interacted with people.

Image: IMDB. (2008). Repo! The Genetic Opera. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0963194/. Last accessed 08/11/2011.

 REPO!:the genetic opera is a 2008 film that is set in the future, where organs are given out on loan after a viral epidemic. This idea creates an unusual mix of horror and comedy. The film also acts as a fictional prediction of what could (theoretically) happen in the future with surgical procedures, even if the concept is a little far fetched.

Image: Carpe Diem. (2011). Transform cosmetic surgery group. Available: http://www.transforminglives.co.uk/. Last accessed 08/11/2011.

The above website is advertising cosmetic surgery procedures for the Tranform cosmetic surgery group. Cosmetic surgery appears all over newspapers, television and the internet - usually regarding famous people that have had some sort of surgical alteration. Common conception of why this is popular is because people feel better knowing that even the rich and famous have body issues. What a pleasant species we are.

Image: Cindy Jackson. (2011). Plastic surgery advice & anti-ageing expert. Cosmetic surgery info. Best reviewed home microdermabrasion.. Available: http://www.cindyjackson.com/. Last accessed 08/11/2011. 

Above are some pictures showing the difference between Cindy Jackson's face over 33 years, with extensive cosmetic surgery. She is known as a leading expert in cosmetic surgery in the media today, and works to break teh stereotype that all women who have plastic surgery are air-headed dolls (She is a member of the MENSA high IQ group).