Bodies: The Exhibition

Bodies... The Exhibition is an exhibition showcasing human bodies that have been preserved through a process called plastination and dissected to display bodily systems.[1] It opened in Tampa, Florida on August 20, 2005.[2] It is similar to, though not affiliated with, the exhibition Body Worlds (which opened in 1995). The exhibit displays internal organs and organic systems, bodies staged in active poses, and fetuses in various stages of development.

Promotional poster.

The show is operated by Premier Exhibitions[3] which presents and promotes similar exhibits including "Bodies Revealed", and "Our Body: The Universe Within", and other entertainment exhibits.[4]

Concerns have been raised by human rights advocates that the bodies are those of executed Chinese prisoners, and that the families of the victims have not consented. The exhibition has claimed that the presumed origin of the bodies and fetuses "relies solely on the representations of its Chinese partners" and that they "cannot independently verify" that the bodies do not belong to executed prisoners.[5] Catholics also had high levels of concern about allowing children to view displays containing human remains.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Exhibit organization

The exhibit is set up so that one starts at the skeletal system, and more layers (muscular, nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems; as well as fetal development and the treated body) are added in successive rooms. Containing about twenty bodies in total, each exhibition uses real human bodies that have been preserved permanently by a process called "polymer preservation" (commonly referred to as "plastination") so that they will not decay. This exhibition is organized by the publicly traded corporation, Premier Exhibitions Incorporated, which also staged Bodies Revealed first in Seoul, South Korea and more recently in the US. The company received the cadavers for research from Chinese government, who donated them because all the bodies at the time of death had no close next of kin or immediate families to claim the bodies. The dissections took place at the Dalian University in Liaoning, China and the resulting specimens were leased to Premier Exhibitions for the five-year duration of the show.

Some of the specimens are arranged so that they are performing activities such as playing poker or conducting an orchestra. Along the way are other displays showing a human intestine stretched out, the polluted lung of an adult smoker, and all of the arteries and veins without the body itself. The exhibit of the polluted lung of the smoker also includes a clear standing box in which guests can discard their cigarettes and tobacco products after viewing the display. In the Las Vegas exhibit, there was also a polluted lung of a fetus on display. One section includes several fetuses in various stages of development. All of the fetuses died due to miscarriages, and the disorders which caused each are highlighted on most of the displays. Guests are notified by a small sign at the exhibit of the sensitivity of the fetus gallery just before entrance into the area, and given the option to skip that room if so desired.

Preservation of the bodies and organs
Main article: Plastination

The bodies are prevented from decay by means of plastination, a rubberization process patented in the 1970s by anatomist Gunther von Hagens. The essence of the process is the replacement of water and fatty material in the cells of the body first by acetone and then by plastics, such as silicone rubber, polyester or epoxy resin.

Ethical concerns
See also: Organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China

Concerns have been raised about the provenance of the bodies[6] and the ethics of viewing human remains (particularly by Catholics), for children.[7][8][10][9] In an editorial, Lutheran Reverend Christoph Reiners questioned the effect on the values of children.[11] Prior to the 2005 U.S. premiere, the Florida Attorney General expressed the opinion that the State Anatomical Board's approval should be required. The Board fought the Tampa exhibit, with its director expressing the opinion that the exhibit should be shut down. Premier Exhibitions officials disagreed, claiming that the Board had jurisdiction only over medical schools and not museums; the exhibit opened two days ahead of schedule at the Tampa Museum of Science and Industry.[12][13][14][15]

From 2006, The New York Times and the 20/20 television program have published reports on a "black market" in Chinese cadavers and organs,[16][17] sparking a Congressional inquiry,[18] an investigation by NY Governor Andrew Cuomo,[19] and the resignation of Premier's CEO Arnie Geller.[20] As the result of the Cuomo investigation and subsequent settlement in 2008,[21] the front page of the exhibition website displays a disclaimer about the presumed origin of the bodies and fetuses, saying that it "relies solely on the representations of its Chinese partners" and "cannot independently verify" that the bodies do not belong to executed prisoners.[5] Both the human rights activist Harry Wu[22] and the director of the Human Rights in China advocacy group have objected to the exhibit on these grounds.[22]

A science education coordinator for the Carnegie Museum of Science resigned her position over the exhibit, citing her religious beliefs, questions about provenance, and a general repugnance for putting "human remains" on exhibit.[23] Professor Anita Allen, a University of Pennsylvania bioethicist, argued spending money to "gawk" at human remains should raise serious concerns.[24] Thomas Hibbs, Baylor University ethicist, compares cadaver displays to pornography in that they reduce the subject to "the manipulation of body parts stripped of any larger human significance."[25] Even if consent were to be obtained, Rabbi Danny Schiff maintains that we should still question what providing "bodies arranged in showcases for a hungry public" says about a society.[26]

In 2017 in Czech Republic, during the time of the exhibition Body The Exhibition taking place in Prague at the Exhibition Grounds in Holesovice, four doctors and four non-profit organizations issued a statement about the ethical and human rights concerns. The statement called upon the organizers to present a consent of the donors of the displayed bodies, if such a document exists. It also expressed concerns about the possibility that the bodies may come from prisoners of conscience in China. The local police in Prague rejected a suggested ban of the exhibition and a burial of the bodies as proposed by Prague 7 district mayor Jan Cizinsky, who also appealed at the Chinese Embassy, asking to bury the bodies.[27]

See also

References
  1. Ulaby, Neda (11 August 2006). "Origins of Exhibited Cadavers Questioned". NPR.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  2. "'Bodies… The Exhibition' Makes Its World Debut" (PDF) (Press release). Premier Exhibitions, Inc. 2005-07-26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  3. "Welcome to Premier Exhibitions". Premier Exhibitions, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  4. "PRXI: Profile for Premier Exhibitions Inc". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  5. "2008-08-22 archive". Premier Exhibitions, Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  6. Ulaby, Neda (2006-08-11). "Origins of Exhibited Cadavers Questioned". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  7. KTVI (2007-08-28). "No Body World Exhibit For Catholic Field Trips". Fox Television Stations. Archived from the original on 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  8. Rodgers, Ann (14 September 2007). "Catholic diocese OKs attendance at 'Bodies' exhibit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  9. Knippenberg, Jim (28 January 2008). "Archbishop says no to 'Bodies' exhibit". The Enquirer. Archived from the original on 31 January 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  10. Lazaruk, Susan (2006-10-01). "Abbotsford schools barred from taking ghoulish field trip". The Province. Archived from the original on 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  11. Reiners, Christoph (2006-09-19). "Body worlds objectifies humanity". Abbotsford News. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  12. "Museum Plans to Open Corpse Show in Fla". redOrbit.com. Associated Press. 2005-08-17. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  13. "Attorney general's decision may scuttle Tampa cadaver exhibit". USA Today. Associated Press. 2005-08-13. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  14. "Crist Reponds to Florida Anatomical Board" (Press release). State of Florida. 2005-08-12. Archived from the original on 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  15. "Bodies Exhibition not dead after all". Tampa Bay Business Journal. 2005-08-19. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  16. Barboza, David (2006-08-08). "China Turns Out Mummified Bodies for Displays". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  17. Ross, Brian; Rhonda Schwarts; Anna Schecter (2008-02-14). "Exclusive: Secret Trade in Chinese Bodies". 20/20. ABC News. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  18. Schecter, Anna (2008-02-20). "Lawmakers Call for Congress to Probe Bodies Shows in Wake of '20/20' Report". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  19. Esposito, Richard; Anna Schecter (2008-05-29). "Crackdown on Ghoulish 'Body Exhibitions'". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  20. Schecter, Anna (2008-04-21). "'Bodies' CEO Resigns After '20/20' Report". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  21. "Cuomo Settlement With 'Bodies. . . .The Exhibition' Ends The Practice Of Using Human Remains Of Suspect Origins" (Press release). New York State Attorney General. 2008-05-29. Archived from the original on 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  22. Jacobs, Andrew (2005-11-18). "Cadaver Exhibition Raises Questions Beyond Taste". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  23. Catz, Elaine (2007-06-24). "Sunday Forum: Exhibition of exploitation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  24. Cronin, Mike (2007-09-07). "Science Center's 'Bodies' exhibit controversial". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  25. Hibbs, Thomas S. (Winter 2007). "Dead Body Porn". New Atlantis. 15: 128–131. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  26. Schiff, Danny (2007-10-14). "Sunday Forum: BODIES - Don't go". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  27. Exhibition of dead bodies not to be banned in Prague
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