Bodies in Plastic

CERC ^ | 11.01.06 | Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D.

[FYREDEUS]

I've seen these...whatever else one might think about them they are amazingly educational.

[DB]

Call me old fashioned but I think it is sick.

[Brad from Tennessee]

["My aim is to illuminate and educate through the beautiful arrangement" of bodies.]

Anyone talented enough to create these "exhibits" out of human flesh should be talented enough achieve the same effect with plastic or some artificial medium. Maybe I'm just squeamish but I think this guy is a ghoul.

[pandoraou812]

I don't know what to think. But I do know I won't go see them or anything like that. I think its just not in good taste to do something like this to someone's body without consent . For those who consent to have their bodies put on display like this I find it morbid. What happens to these bodies when nobody wants them any longer. Do they get a burial or just dumped into a dumpster? I don't like seeing dead things in general so this just wouldn't be for me. Maybe its educational but I still wouldn't sign a class trip form for my child to see it. It is kind of strange.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Maybe I'm just squeamish but I think this guy is a ghoul.

GHOUL

That is exactly the word that came to mind when I read this.

[Jotmo]

while in another, a man has been peeled down to his musculature, and he carries his skin on his arm like an old raincoat

This statement here basically destroys the "It's for educational purposes" BS.

This is a twisted form of "artistic expression" for this freak.

[aligncare]

...you're old fashioned.

[Darth Republican]

Just one word, Ben....

[ALASKA]

I saw this in Chicago and it was incredible. Our bodies are just vehicles. To me, it was simply a fascinating car show. The educational factor was phenominal. Everything was done with respect and reverance..........nothing ghoulish or tawdry about it........

[monkapotamus]

Hehe

[aligncare]

You both have a point. Upon further consideration, we do have the knowledge of human anatomy and materials technology to have presented this educational exhibit using artificial materials...the exhibits use of cadavers is not in the context of training doctors.

[aroostook war]

Also featured in a scene from "Casino Royale."

[Jotmo]

nothing ghoulish or tawdry about it........

Perhaps you missed this one

"a man has been peeled down to his musculature, and he carries his skin on his arm like an old raincoat"

Nah. Nothing ghoulish or tawdry about that...

[Prospero]

This "art form" is derivative, arising from the work of a French madman, or one who might rightly have been called mad, late in 18th or early in the 19th century.

Nothing new or original about it, and one can hardly call it art, it is embalming, and that debate is at least 200 years old, also.

Some more resourceful Freeper will remember and name and link to the work of the person I'm speaking of.

[wideminded]

One of these shows is ending soon near here so I'm probably going to go see it tomorrow.

[Unmarked Package]

I happened to be at the Body Worlds exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science when school children were touring the exhibit. I was surprised and relieved at their reaction to the exhibit; one of fascination, awe, and amusement and nothing resembling fear or revulsion.

The adult patrons were having a bit more difficult time, maybe because they were imagining with if it were their family members or themselves on display. The children were more detached and objective, as if viewing a Disney Animatronix display.

I knew I would react favorably to the exhibit. The study of human anatomy and physiology is a particular interest of mine. I took Pre-Med courses as electives in college, some involving dissection of human cadavers, totally unrelated to my major in Engineering simply to satisfy my own curiosity.

I understand this is not everyone’s cup of tea and some will find it ghoulish, but the human body is such a marvelous creation. An exhibit like Body Worlds can change the minds of many in their estimation of the value of human life.

[DB]

Then manufacture it out of 100% plastic - not dead people.

[Chuck54]

Totally agree. I saw it in NYC earlier this year and thought it a truly amazing exhibit.

If it's near you, DO NOT miss it.