Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

When I die, I want to be a ballerina (Plastination of the Dead in California as an Art Form)
LA Times ^ | 22 March 2008 | Karin Klein

Posted on 03/22/2008 7:16:02 AM PDT by shrinkermd

...Sure enough, that's what Body Worlds is all about. The cadavers, (relatively) whole or in parts, are fascinating, sometimes beautiful and inspiring, and remarkably low in ick factor. They could be plastic or ceramic; when you see them, you have to keep reminding yourself that they're dead people, and then you get to pat yourself on the back for how well you're taking this. A practically skinless man is leaping over a hurdle, though given the lack of clearance, he is perpetually headed toward really hurting his private parts. His aerodynamically sliced brain, however, seems like overkill. There's no apparent educational reason for this. It is, I deduce, Art.

Likewise the giant posters of loving people (the theme of the exhibit is ostensibly the heart), inscribed with quotes from Khalil Gibran. What do these have to do with agate-like slices of brain revealing a stroke? Or the nerves, in a display case all by themselves and understandably looking a little frayed? Let's stop the pretense to poetic thinking. This is a curiosity, an informative bit of voyeurism, and that's good enough for me.

There's an archer and figure skaters, a flamenco dancer and a torch carrier, their athletically graceful poses (and paucity of skin) showing off their lean muscles, the interplay of bone and tendon and ligament. Of course, anyone's abs would look ripped if they weren't hiding under a pad of fat. And with a couple of notable exceptions, fat was banished. Finally.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: California
KEYWORDS: art; cultureofdeath; plastination; worshippingdeath
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-38 last
To: Dog Gone

I am saddened by this, but I can’t really verbalize well what troubles me about these exhibits. It would seem to be in the same vein as Dr Kervorkian - death for its entertainment value for him. I recognize that these people aren’t in pain, but they are people.

I understand the need to have willing donors used in scientific research to study/cure human ailments. But this seems a violation of human dignity for no purpose but its entertainment value.

Heavens, American Indians fought for the right to bury Kennewick man with appropriate ceremony. We go to great lengths - 9/11 recoveries, for instance - to make sure those who die are treated with dignity.

But we Westerners apparently don’t give a care these days that these individuals are someone’s son, mother, brother, and even if they were willing to be exhibited in such fashion, can’t we avoid our baser nature in doing so? Those who are Christians also know we are God’s special creation and concern.

Frankly I think the same of Survivor, Fear factor, cage fighting, etc. Bread and circuses . . .

Flame on.


21 posted on 03/22/2008 10:32:04 AM PDT by Wicket (God bless and protect our troops and God bless America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Wicket

NO flames here. You said it perfectly.


22 posted on 03/22/2008 10:36:36 AM PDT by MarMema (kosovo will always be Serbian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: IronJack

great post, thanks!!


23 posted on 03/22/2008 10:37:35 AM PDT by MarMema (kosovo will always be Serbian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Wicket

I can verbalize it. It’s an outrageous display of disrespect of the dead.

A society that does not respect the dead rarely respects the living, either.

Instead of respectfully buried or cremated, human bodies are now a freak show exhibit? It’s revolting, appalling, nauseating, and morbid.

There is nothing taught by this that could not be just as well taught with plastic scale models... except that human beings are nothing special, to be dissected like animals.

And that is, in essence the message - that humans are animals, doubly reinforced by the treatment of the dead and the actions of the living who would do such a thing.


24 posted on 03/22/2008 10:42:39 AM PDT by Content Provider
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Content Provider

I agree..which is why, as someone studying anatomy I would find it interesting to go...I will not go. These are dead people, regardless of how innocent it looks. I think I could understand this kind of display better if it was strictly for medical students or for those studying anatomy.


25 posted on 03/22/2008 10:47:22 AM PDT by freepertoo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Content Provider

How can it be disrespect? These people volunteered when they were alive to be displayed this way.

This is entertainment in the same way Rush is entertaining. Yes there are laughs and humor, but underlying all this is the education of those who are there to see it.


26 posted on 03/22/2008 10:50:10 AM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Balding_Eagle

Whether they volunteered or not, it is still disrespect. Women voluntarily get abortions - is that not disrespect of life? Others voluntarily submit to euthanasia - is that not also disrespect of life?

The act of consent does not mitigate the disrespect, it only means the consenting person disrespected himself in addition to the disrespect of the exhibitors.

Human corpses as a subject of entertainment is about as disrespectful as can be. It’s not a heck of a lot better than digging up skulls from graveyards and joking “Alas, poor Yorick!”

What it says is that human death is nothing special. That sentiment cannot be separated from saying that human life is nothing special. As I believe in a Creator that is unacceptable to me.


27 posted on 03/22/2008 10:57:46 AM PDT by Content Provider
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: mamelukesabre

Double Disgusting, anyone that watches this should be ashamed!


28 posted on 03/22/2008 11:02:05 AM PDT by JSDude1 (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56306 "MoveON McCain" To find McCain's Sorros)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Wicket

Not to mention the concern for these people’s Eternal Souls!


29 posted on 03/22/2008 11:05:05 AM PDT by JSDude1 (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56306 "MoveON McCain" To find McCain's Sorros)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Content Provider
What it says is that human death is nothing special.

As a Christian, that is my belief. Once our souls have left our bodies, the empty shell means nothing. These are not humans. It is not a disrespect of life because there is no life here anymore! The former occupants of the body have moved on - hopefully to a better place.

30 posted on 03/22/2008 11:07:54 AM PDT by mollynme (cogito, ergo freepum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

Call me nuts, but I don’t think dead bodies should be displayed for admission at a shopping mall.


31 posted on 03/22/2008 11:11:22 AM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Content Provider
There is nothing taught by this that could not be just as well taught with plastic scale models... except that human beings are nothing special, to be dissected like animals. And that is, in essence the message - that humans are animals, doubly reinforced by the treatment of the dead and the actions of the living who would do such a thing.

Another great reply. Why couldn't I have said this???

Excellent, brilliant. Thank you!

32 posted on 03/22/2008 11:11:25 AM PDT by MarMema (kosovo will always be Serbian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: mollynme

What makes human death special is that it is inseparable from human life. It is because human life is special that the shell left over at the end of that life should be treated with respect.

And I think you’ll find that Christians generally hold this view; it is why the dead get buried or cremated rather than simply tossed on the trash or ground up for animal feed.


33 posted on 03/22/2008 12:14:12 PM PDT by Content Provider
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

Plastination...

That is what Nancy Pelosi did to her face.


34 posted on 03/22/2008 12:39:35 PM PDT by GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)

Yep. She learned it from joan rivers.


35 posted on 03/22/2008 12:40:06 PM PDT by mamelukesabre (Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Dog Gone

“I saw one of the demonstratons is Houston, and it was worth every cent.”

I took my daughter to see the exhibit at the Witte in San Antonio. FIguring she wants to be a doctor I thought it would be a good thing to see.

She loved it.


36 posted on 03/22/2008 12:52:18 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Shouldn't the libs love a Hunter Thompson ticket in 08?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

I saw the exhibit. I thought it was tasteful, respectful, and valuable. I’ve even given some thought to donating my remains to a program like it.


37 posted on 03/22/2008 12:56:38 PM PDT by timm22 (Think critically)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freepertoo
By the same token then, aren't open viewing in caskets at funeral homes macabre displays of disrespect?

I don't even know how you disrespect a corpse. I can get the concept or respecting one, but I think it's really is showing respect to the living who knew the invidual.

In many respects, it's like looking at stuffed animals on display at the Natural History Museum, although there the added element of that these people were actually frozen in time, forever on display.

Different people clearly will have different reactions to the concept. I found it fascinating, informative, and tastefully done, I have a much greater appreciation of how our body works.

I'm leaning toward eventual cremation. But if one this exhibits would prefer to display me as a keyboard commando, I'd be all right with that, too. They'd have to embalm or plasticize a bag of Cheetos at the display for authenticity purposes, though.

38 posted on 03/22/2008 1:00:44 PM PDT by Dog Gone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-38 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson