human taxidermy

[MirrorTodd]

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I'm watching the history channel right now and it's a special on taxidermy. Right now, it shows real human bodies being made into museum places. This is totally nuts. They somehow remove the water from the body and this preserves it. They've shown how the seperated the circulatory system, the nervous sytem, and all the other systems seperated. It's pretty amazing that you can do this and see each individual part of the human body. Anyone care to discuss?

 

[txfisher]

I went to see Body World 3 in Houston this weekend. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It's on exhibit there until september.

 

[MirrorTodd]

Darn, I thought it would be moved, but still hoped. Oh well, I wonder where that exhibit is going next.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Darn, I thought it would be moved, but still hoped. Oh well, I wonder where that exhibit is going next.

There are a few different exhibits moving around. I've heard they are really cool. Anyone hear about the lady who stole a preserved fetus from an exhibit? Weirdo

 

[TypeA]

I am just waiting to hear about the crazy who couldn't live without their loved ones and had them all stuffed. I can't believe this hasn't happened yet.

On a different, yet related note...are there laws governing human taxidermy? I mean, what is to prevent the above scenerio?

 

[twester]

I saw Body Worlds 2 in Denver last month. It was amazing, respectful and scientific. Not only were the bodies preserved, but they were dissected in some pretty creative ways. Personally, I have no problem with this practice and those who do should avoid the exhibits and not donate their corpses to any organization that engages in the practice.

Regarding the preservation of loved ones, it reminds me of the guy here in Colorado who wanted to be cryogenically preserved, but couldn't afford it. His grandson has him out in the shed and they keep him frozen in dry ice. The town of Nederland has a festival in his honor every year.

 

[laboholic]

I saw Body World in St. Paul in June. It was pretty cool. I bet it would be better to see it after the first year of medical school though.

 

[ghostfoot]

I'm watching the history channel right now and it's a special on taxidermy. Right now, it shows real human bodies being made into museum places. This is totally nuts. They somehow remove the water from the body and this preserves it. They've shown how the seperated the circulatory system, the nervous sytem, and all the other systems seperated. It's pretty amazing that you can do this and see each individual part of the human body. Anyone care to discuss?

They use "plastination". If you get a chance to go, its definitely worth it. I went to Body Worlds when I was in Taipei 2 years ago and will go again if it ever comes to my area. Its a very cool exhibit and the inventor of plastination, Gunther von Hagens, has an interesting story as well.

 

[SpeakLittleB]

i went, and thot it was really interesting as well. but i really have mixed feelings. on the one hand, it's good that so many people want to marvel at the human body, but at the same time, i felt there was something irreverent about putting dead bodies on display as a "cool" museum exhibit.

 

[Deli422]

i went, and thot it was really interesting as well. but i really have mixed feelings. on the one hand, it's good that so many people want to marvel at the human body, but at the same time, i felt there was something irreverent about putting dead bodies on display as a "cool" museum exhibit.

I agree. I hear in their next exhibit, they want to show bodies having sex. Now, that's just plain silly.

 

[Febrifuge]

I liked "Bodies: The Exhibition" a lot more than "Body Worlds." There are something like three different plastination exhibits moving around the country, and von Hagens' "Body Worlds" was... well, it was more art, less science than "Bodies" was. A matter of taste, I guess.

 

[EUA]

I agree. I hear in their next exhibit, they want to show bodies having sex. Now, that's just plain silly.

Why? It's how we all got here.

The exhibit comes to my city in December.... and I am counting the days!

 

[Punchap]

I saw Body Worlds II in Cleveland and it took me a while to believe that they were real human bodies - it must have been the way they were arranged as art. I think what drove it home was the tattoo on an older gentleman, it looked very similar to the one my cousin has. Also, after seeing the "fat slabs" I had to go on a mini-diet.
An awesome exhibit by the way.