Traveling 'Corpse Shows'. Ever been to one?

I recently saw on TV a program about a German doctor who has invented a new form of preserving tissue called "plastination". His exhibits are controversial but he has dissected cadavers and posed them in very life-like poses: including a rider atop a horse! From a physician's point of view, his work is artful and exquisite.

 

I saw it while I was in London in 2002. It's pretty cool stuff. My favorite was probably the running guy with his muscles peeled away. They had some 7+ foot tall guy riding a bike, too. I say it was worth it and would go again if they're in town.

Edit: jungathart, the most controversial thing that I think someone would call would the be fetuses (sp?) that were deformed. Two of my uncles were there, too, and both are doctors. They were much more amazed than I was. They had the horse there, too, it's huge. They also had a person that was sliced from front to back in many pieces so you could see each cutaway.

Edit #2: They said the german guy who invented it had already done it on his dead best friend and plans to do it on himself once he dies.

 

I wonder how much the process costs. I can see Liz Taylor and Michael Jackson in line with deposits to be forever preserved this way!

 

I saw the Body Worlds aka Korper Welten exhibit in Munich a few years ago (it's the 'plastination' one). Amazing and well worth the money (~$15-20). Not only are the full bodies phenominal and unlike anything you've seen, they also have plasticized organs from every system in the body, and in various states of health - ie. you see a healthy lungs, smoker's lungs, etc.

Junga- it doesn't cost the donor anything, IIRC. But you'll be dissected and on display for thousands/millions of ppl to see.

It's in Philadelphia right now I think, the taxis here in Boston have ads for it.

 

I saw the Body Worlds aka Korper Welten exhibit in Munich a few years ago (it's the 'plastination' one). Amazing and well worth the money (~$15-20). Not only are the full bodies phenominal and unlike anything you've seen, they also have plasticized organs from every system in the body, and in various states of health - ie. you see a healthy lungs, smoker's lungs, etc.

Junga- it doesn't cost the donor anything, IIRC. But you'll be dissected and on display for thousands/millions of ppl to see.

It's in Philadelphia right now I think, the taxis here in Boston have ads for it.

 

That must hurt like hell to have that done.

 

??

 

Wow...two ugly old white women. I'd pay two bits to see that.

 

My 6 year old daughter wants me to take her. To those who have seen it, would it be too disturbing or revealing or anything else?

 

I saw it on exhibit in LA. I guess I have a pretty weak stomach, but I HATED it. I saw about 1/2 of the displays and bailed. The fact that I was standing there next to dead bodies, on which I could still see real eyelashes, etc really creeped me out. I understand the science/medicinal benefits of this, but I just didn't feel right being there. I've also heard that there's some controversy as to where this guy got the bodies. I've heard that a lot are from "unclaimed" bodies from China. Anyway, everyone's different, so that this for what it's worth.

 

LOL. Aren't they both half-way there ('plastinated') already?

 

i believe you have to be 18 yrs old or older to go

 

I'll be going to the plastination show with my family in a few weeks. I forget where though.

 

I tried out for that show but never heard back. That's okay, the other cast members were kinda dull anyway.

 

yea i went to one yesterday it was awsome.

 

I was 17 when I went. My brother was 15. As long as you have an adult with you I think you're fine. If you plan to bring a young kid, let them know they're be at eye level for genitals.