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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
GUEST,Desdemona BS: Plastination: Exhibition of Human Body (27) RE: BS: Plastination: Exhibition of Human Body 15 Aug 06


I live near Boston, and it's been all over the local papers, television, etc. Thus far I only know a few people who have seen it, notably a med student friend of my (adult) niece. My niece went along with her, and was fascinated albeit somewhat weirded out; her friend found it more straightforwardly compelling...I must confess my own feelings about the whole business are pretty mixed, and after some consideration I feel that I will NOT see it.

On the one hand, I can see the point of taking the mindful time to appreciate the beauty of the human body, and its wonder as a model of form and function...as Hamlet puts it,

""What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals..."

On the other hand, the manipulation of actual human remains, whether for artistic, educational, aesthetic and/or scientific effect (and especially for profit; NB that this is a ticketed exhibit at $24 a pop) strikes me as only underlining our status as the
"quintessence of dust" referred to later in the above speech; mere physical matter to be arranged, rearranged and displayed to casual observers...there's something about the whole enterprise that seems to strip away the dignity of these once-living people, and while I can well imagine what a fascinating spectacle it must be, I think I would feel uncomfortable participating in it.

Just my humble opinion, however. I'd be very interested in hearing others' take on it.

~D


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