A buddy of mine just viewed this exhibit in California. I didn't think to get where exactly but I did get enough info to google this site. He was fascinated and highly recommended it. There was one exhibit that featured exclusively the vascular system (intact).
My friend said the exhibit is promoted as being a blend of science and art.
I would be interested in hearing how everyone else feels about this considering there is some opposition.
[ August 22, 2004, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: punwit ]
Posted by Anthro (Member # 6087) on :
Oh wow, this is really incredible. My friend went to the exhibition in Berlin and I saw her photos. If it's coming to the U.S., I'm there.
I know it looks morbid, but soem of it's pretty cool. There's a rabbit--well, actually, only its veins. Good stuff.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
COOL.
I read about this type of preservation in the book Stiff.
I think that's what I want when I die.
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
I'd rather be a skeleton. But this does sound really cool. I can't decide whether it bothers me to call it art. Right now I much prefer to only think of the educational aspects of the exhibits.
Posted by Azile (Member # 2312) on :
How awesome! If it is in California, I would want to go!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
The Science Museum in St. Paul has two slices made by this guy. They have them sequestered in a part of the human body exhibit area and you are warned at least twice by signs before you go into the space where the slices are.
It is fascinating to see. They give you a magnifying glass so you can get a close up view of structures you're interested in.
It's very educational, I think. The nerves and muscles are fascinating in this "prepartion."
Loved it!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
If it were only being done for scientific/educational purposes, I'd still be a tad squicked. I believe human bodies deserve some degree of respect, and a proper burial. But if it really were being done for science/education, my objections would be slight, if any.
However, while the current exhibit focuses more on those aspects (because of pushes from individuals and groups who were consulted beforehand), the original exhibits in Europe were presented as art. And that I find abhorrent.
Additionally, the "professor" has only an honorary degree, and has lied about his professional background. I don't think I kept the link to the article that dealt with his real credentials a couple months back.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
The thing is, after I read that book and learning about how corpses decompose and such...plastination seems like the best option.
Stiff is highly recommended reading.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*twinkle* But I don't have any problem with decomposing.
Jewish law actually requires burial practices that promote rapid decomposition. In Israel, bodies are buried in just a shroud. Elsewhere, that is not allowed, so we use a plain wooden box. I believe average time of decomposition is something on the order of one-tenth that of other burial methods.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I've come to fear that devious twinkle...
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
get on aim, pleaaaaaase.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
ick
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Bah. There's already plenty of plastination in California.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I'd just as soon they let my body decompose, once they've harvested all the useful organs from it. I really don't care at all about what's done with my body after I'm finished with it, but it seems like it would make some good fertilizer.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)