Posted on 12/09/2006 9:54:54 PM PST by Coleus
I understand your viewpoint.
However, I have some exposure working with amazingly realistic simulated anatomical models and real human cadavers and have seen how students react to both for the first time. Invariably, the respect, reverence and appreciation for the human cadaver were apparent whereas students would often joke around with the simulated models.
Personally, when viewing an anatomical simulation my mind is constantly thinking, and feeling, this is as Man created it. When studying a real human cadaver I feel in my soul this is as God created us. There is a huge difference in the emotional and spiritual reaction to the two experiences for most people.
In my opinion, the Body Worlds exhibit is intended to be as much a spiritual experience as it is educational.
I also had human dissection in med school...it was endlessly fascinating.
Technically, the process they use is plastic. Essentially, the water and fat in cells and tissue is drawn out and replaced with various types of polymers and dyes, down to the cellular level. It's sort of like mummification or fossilization.
They have one interesting part of the Body Worlds exhibit with several specimens of just the circulatory system. They plastinated complete circulatory systems, from the aorta and vena cavae down to the capillaries, and removed all of the overlying tissue, leaving complete circulatory systems as they were laid out within the body.
Personally, if the donors were willing to leave their remains for this purpose, I think that it is very educational and illustrative of the workings of the body. If one finds it offensive, as always, one need not visit such an exhibit.
ping
My God what a coincidence - I was just thinking of that movie as I was reading these posts. When I was a kid, watching it on "Fantastic Features" late at night (hosted by "Sivad") it really creeped me out!
I would go to see this in a minute.
I was gonna point that out myself...thank you sir...
Lots of other 'uses' for the deceased too.
Nope, I didn't miss it, actually that was one of the most fascinating. It was amazing to see the size of the entirety of our skins. It wasn't ghoulish, but you'd need to SEE it to know that...........wouldn't you.
We are as near to the end of times as we could possibly be, we have no respect for the dead nor those about to be born no matter if they are healthy or not,
Newborn are dumped into garbage, our elder are kept in closets
to collect their pension, our daughters are turning into prostitutes and featured on girls gone wild and no one bats an eye, man have sex with one another and both homosexual and lesbians lifestyle are commonplace,
Man I am ready for God to tear down this creation and start anew.
I'm with DB and Brad. When Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry had this exhibit I refused to go and let them know that it is ghoulish and immoral.
Okay Dr. Depresso....go end it all....but don't forget to donate your body to the exhibit....
I'd like to see it on display....
-- And in the fifteenth century you would have been against Leonardo's drawings made from dissections.
BTTT.
I've seen them too. I thot it was sick. Ghoulish. Macabre.
With these poses, it strikes me as more entertainment first.
Whatever, the upside of this is, I see a pragmatically dehumanizing downside.
Human bodies as art objects? Our culture has slipped a quantum level the day this is acceptable.
As for making these totally out of plastic instead of actual human bodies, NO ONE would go see it if it weren't from humans. That's the gimmick.
For me, he's a GHOUL.
Educational? Certainly. Fascinating? Most definitely, in a ghoulish sort of way.
But for the creator to pretend that this is simply about education for him stretches the bounds of credibility.
There are many things that have been done to people throughout history that were certainly "educational", but sick, twisted and evil all the same.
Don't go knee jerking now, I'm not saying this display is evil. Just pointing out that because something is educational, it is not a justification for anything goes. And education is the main...no, the only defense brought to bear in support of this.
The fact that they are displayed in the manner that they are, had to involve some "artistic expression" (Man with skin over arm is ONE example.) And using human bodies for art, it just plain sick and creepy in my book.
All that said, I certainly wouldn't think bad of anyone that wanted to see it. It's something that will appeal to many, and that doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with them. They just have a higher tolerance for such things.
But you must admit, that much of the attraction to this display is a sort of fascination with things that are in some ways "ghoulish and tawdry".
But plastic models do not fulfill the voyeuristic impulse many here have already shown.
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