Our Body

[phread]

This is a show that has toured the and it features preserved human bodies that have had the muscles exposed and then put into various positions common to daily life. Like playing chess, riding a bike. Etc and so on.
The french courts have recently banned this exhibit in Paris claiming that it is indecent. The show is closed awaiting appeals.
I just thought that it was culturally interesting that it is even being questioned here. Pretty sure that it did some rounds in the US, know that it made it in London.

[Shoesy]

Sounds kinda gross to me.

[sunshine817]

We saw the exhibit that toured the US -- it was a really interesting alternative to the standing-straight, head up, static displays you usually see -- it was far more interesting to see the bodies in frozen motion.

The circulatory system was fascinating -- it looked like nothing so much as a person made entirely of red lace. To think our bodies are so beautiful and work so well.

There were some icky parts -- displays of various diseases (including a pretty convincing anti-smoking exhibit!) but most of it was a fairly tasteful homage to the miracle of the human body.

[Happygoin]

Yes, that exhibit was in Boston last year. Played to sold-out crowds. There were long lines, especially on weekends. There were the naysayers here as well.

[suzanne]

My daughter called us while we were in Paris to tell us that they had seen this in San Diego. she said she became ill and had to outside and wait for her husband and in-laws. she said there was a strange odor that was causing her discomfort.

I know I am far too squeamish for that sort of exhibit.

[Laura NY (aoi33)]

It is still here in New York. I saw it several years ago and I would say that some of the exhibits like the circulatory system were gorgeous and very interesting and others like a fatty liver, smoker's lungs and an enlarged heart due to obesity certainly gave one pause for thought.

I chose not to go into the exhibit of fetuses and was very grateful that they had appropriate signage up so that I didn't stumble upon it unwittingly.

Overall though, there was something unsettling about the exhibition and I still can't put my finger on exactly what it was that made me feel that way.

Later on, there was an expose on one of the magazine shows that the bodies used were those of Chinese prisoners, not people who had left their bodies to science, which is what I had presumed. It didn't make me feel any better about seeing it.

[geordy]

A co-worker went this past weekend..really enjoyed it.

I never had a huge urge to go...now am somewhat intrigued. Surprised at the French Courts....have to do a bit more research!


* Ah the Chinese connection!

[Jody]

I think I'll pass on this one!

[sandy]

The exhibition was here in Buenos Aires last year too. Now I wonder how many bodies they have since it seems to be taking place at different cities at a time.
There was much speculation here about where the bodies came from, and entrance was not cheap at all. Nevertheless it was always full and it had to be extended for a few weeks for its success.
I never wanted to go either, though I heard people say it was fascinating.

[ray]

I saw this in Toronto. Pretty freaky. I'd have never made it as a doctor.

[phread]

Oh Sandy, I hadn't thought of that. The whole concept grosses me out.

[plan09]

I remember when it was here there was some question about how the cadavers had been obtained and there were numerous protest from human rights groups.

[Shoesy]

Apr 29, 2009 11:10:13 GMT -5 plan09 said:

I remember when it was here there was some question about how the cadavers had been obtained and there were numerous protest from human rights groups.

Hi plan09 ! Where is "here"? (i.e. where do you live?)

[Anne]

The Cour d'Appel confirmed today the first judgement, so the exhibition is definetly closed .
The interesting point is that the each court gave a different reason to justify its decision . The first hearing judge had said that the acting done with the bodies was indecent and that the proper place for corpses is cemetery, while the appeal judge said that the organizers of the exhibition failed to prove that the corpses had not been dealt with fraudulously and that the dead persons had given their full consent to this future use of their bodies . This implicitely relates to the accusations made by human rights groups that these corpses are those of executed Chinese prisoners which have been sold (illegally of course) by the Chinese govt or some officials .

[luckyluc]

So interesting, thank you Anne. When the exhibit came to Toronto a few years back, my partner and I went to see it, but after 20 minutes I had to leave. I had this very unconfortable feeling of morbid curiosity, he on the other hand only saw the scientific aspects.
I supposed that closing the exhibit will bring it a lot of publicity....

[suzanne]

I didn't know they had babies. Now I know why my daughter was so upset. She had just had a miscarriage.

[sunshine817]

That's interesting -- the exhibit we saw in Tampa had only adult bodies on display. Perhaps different exhibits (with different degrees of detail?) might explain the wide range of reactions, too.

[plan09]

Shoesy-
I live in central Ohio, sorry to be mysterious. The exhibit was here for a while and there always seemed to be some controversy about it.

[Shoesy]

Thanks for the clarification, plan09. Ohio....hmmm...... if you ever bump into a guy named IrishRovr, please tell him OPF misses him.

As for that exhibit, I can definitely understand the controversy. Just thinking about it makes me queasy, and it doesn't arouse the least bit of curiosity. All I can say is "Ew!"

[PariS]

Apr 30, 2009 22:16:59 GMT -5 Shoesy said:

Just thinking about it makes me queasy, and it doesn't arouse the least bit of curiosity. All I can say is "Ew!"

I'm with you, Shoesy. Ugh.