Full Version: "The Universe Within" Exhibit
I went to this exhibit last weekend.
Don't go into this site unless you don't care about seeing dissected human bodies coated in plastic. Note: Very, very graphic, shows private body parts.
http://www.theuniversewithin.org/index.htm
Anyway, this exhibit has about 200 real body exhibits. Basically, it breaks down the entire body for you to examine.
There was one where there was a big, red, hairy mass hanging in the shape of a body. It was just the veins of a person. Pretty cool but...
I was finished looking around, and I walk up to my dad and say:
"If they're ever going to use my body for an exhibit like this, don't let them use it for that, that or that."
I was pointing out the different exhibits that I found somewhat weird.
The first was where an entire human body was cross-sectioned so that there were hundreds of sections, each about the width of a slice of bread, and half that on the head, all assembled in a holder.
The second is shown here. Basically it is a dissected body with all of the muscles separated and labeled.
The third was one where it showed a person standing up, all his muscles and organs were there, just not his skin. The worst part about this body was that the body was posed so that it was holding up a hanger. And over the hanger was his skin. Yeah.
The only one out of the three I found improper was the third. I'd probably make sure my family sued the company if that was what my body was used for.
Anyway...
Questions:
Do you think exhibits like this are disrespectful, or are they necessary to have available to non-doctors?
Why?
I'll describe more exhibits if you request.
Don't go into this site unless you don't care about seeing dissected human bodies coated in plastic. Note: Very, very graphic, shows private body parts.
http://www.theuniversewithin.org/index.htm
Anyway, this exhibit has about 200 real body exhibits. Basically, it breaks down the entire body for you to examine.
There was one where there was a big, red, hairy mass hanging in the shape of a body. It was just the veins of a person. Pretty cool but...
I was finished looking around, and I walk up to my dad and say:
"If they're ever going to use my body for an exhibit like this, don't let them use it for that, that or that."
I was pointing out the different exhibits that I found somewhat weird.
The first was where an entire human body was cross-sectioned so that there were hundreds of sections, each about the width of a slice of bread, and half that on the head, all assembled in a holder.
The second is shown here. Basically it is a dissected body with all of the muscles separated and labeled.
The third was one where it showed a person standing up, all his muscles and organs were there, just not his skin. The worst part about this body was that the body was posed so that it was holding up a hanger. And over the hanger was his skin. Yeah.
The only one out of the three I found improper was the third. I'd probably make sure my family sued the company if that was what my body was used for.
Anyway...
Questions:
Do you think exhibits like this are disrespectful, or are they necessary to have available to non-doctors?
Why?
I'll describe more exhibits if you request.
Moved to Principles and Personal Philosophy - there's a real debate here. 
Do you think exhibits like this are disrespectful, or are they necessary to have available to non-doctors?
Why?
I haven't yet been to either The Universe Within or Body Worlds, but I'd like to go. Though I guess I'll get enough anatomy when I get to med school...anyway. I don't think any of the exhibits described are disrespectful in anyway. There are no poses which sound like a line was stepped over. Some of them might be disturbing (like the skin one) but I don't think there's any reason for it to be disrespectful. It's not as though they had the person posing with their skin on a washing machine and a bottle of Shout in its hand.
Whether or not it's necessary I don't know. I would think anatomy of the body would be interesting to a lot of people, and as long as they're not crossing any major lines (ie. sex positions could rub a few people the wrong way) I think it should be allowed. I know exhibits like Body Worlds are pretty popular and people generally have good things to say.
Why?
I haven't yet been to either The Universe Within or Body Worlds, but I'd like to go. Though I guess I'll get enough anatomy when I get to med school...anyway. I don't think any of the exhibits described are disrespectful in anyway. There are no poses which sound like a line was stepped over. Some of them might be disturbing (like the skin one) but I don't think there's any reason for it to be disrespectful. It's not as though they had the person posing with their skin on a washing machine and a bottle of Shout in its hand.
Whether or not it's necessary I don't know. I would think anatomy of the body would be interesting to a lot of people, and as long as they're not crossing any major lines (ie. sex positions could rub a few people the wrong way) I think it should be allowed. I know exhibits like Body Worlds are pretty popular and people generally have good things to say.
As far as I can tell, this exhibit is intended to be educational. I don't get the feeling that it is intended to shock or disgust. Of course, viewers should be aware of what they are going to see. It would probably not be a good idea for very young children to view this exhibit.
I certainly don't see why such an exhibit should not be available to the general public. The intricacy of the human body is a subject of interest to many with no formal education in medicine, just as the structure of the universe is of interest to many with no formal education in astronomy. Seeing what is inside all of us might lead someone to a greater appreciation of our common humanity, just like images of the Earth from space.
I certainly don't see why such an exhibit should not be available to the general public. The intricacy of the human body is a subject of interest to many with no formal education in medicine, just as the structure of the universe is of interest to many with no formal education in astronomy. Seeing what is inside all of us might lead someone to a greater appreciation of our common humanity, just like images of the Earth from space.
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