Stelios Arcadious and his third ear
Performance artist Stelios Arcadious has implanted a third ear in his arm. Yes, you can read that sentence again. You can also step away from the computer to regroup after seeing the picture to your right. Back now? OK, here's the deal. The ear was grown from cells and is apparently still growing. Right now it's just a relief -- ewww! -- but apparently it will grow into a full-fledged ear -- double ewwwww! Arcadious will eventually install a microphone once the ear is fully developed. He said he did it because he thinks art should be more than "illustrating ideas."
That crazy ole' Stelios! Now, I agree that art CAN be more than just illustrating ideas. But here's the kicker -- not every idea is a good one! I mean, why an ear? And why in your forearm? You know I could possibly see implanting an ear in your foot or something, with the theory that you wanted to hear what's happening at ground level. You could call it Keeping One's Ear to the Ground or some such thing. But in your forearm? It doesn't even make sense logistically. If you ask me, Stelios would be better served by implanting a few extra brain cells.
Kelly
October 17, 2007 at 04:53 AM
No. no no no no. Angela, that's really disturbing.
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Nicole Lozare
October 17, 2007 at 05:20 PM
Angela, how on earth do you find these? I'm nauseated and fascinated at the same time. Gross. I just imagined him using a Q-tip to clean his third ear.
ed decker
October 17, 2007 at 11:20 PM
My goodness! What's really disgusting is I think he implanted Peter Boyle's face on top of his own. Yuck!
aaryn b.
October 17, 2007 at 11:27 PM
I totally thought this was Peter Boyle with the disturbing appendage. Appendage? Right. (Speaking of which, I think perhaps we should all be extremely thankful he opted to implant this anatomic part.) But riddle me this, Bat Girl: Does this third ear actually work or is Arcadious gonna need to get a hearing aid?
Gah!
Pam
October 18, 2007 at 06:37 PM
Hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I call "bull" on this.
A local biotech company was/is a leader in growing synthetic tissue; ears, to be exact. (These Days did a segment on this eons ago.) They grafted/grew them onto the backs of lab mice.
I find it impossible that an ear would be implanted subcutaneously and emerge through the skin.
I find it even more dubious that such a costly and experimental medical technology would be wasted on a performance art piece.
Kelly Davis
October 18, 2007 at 07:10 PM
Pam, you're a total downer. The Daily Mail reported the story. Hello? Can you find a more respected source? ;)
aaryn b.
October 18, 2007 at 09:27 PM
Jeeze, Pam.
Why can't you play along? Why do you have to rain on our parade? C'mon! Loosen up, girl.
Pam
October 18, 2007 at 09:31 PM
Oh, apparently this is part of what you call "the humor?"
I still don't understand these internets.
