Plastic people
So over the weekend I visited the Body Worlds III exhibit put together by the mildly controversial Gunther von Hagens. Hagens has figured out how to, in essence, turn the partially dissected bodies of cadavers from flesh and bone to plastic and then posing them artistically.
I went with someone who really knows her anatomy and she was delighted. I have some anatomy training, though never anything like work with cadavers, and I was... not delighted, but I learned an awful lot.
In the grand scheme of things we're alive for such a short time. To spend it trying to dictate to others how to live seems almost as tragic as living it being dictated to by anyone else.
It's worth mentioning that one thing I learned was that stripped of skin and bone we're svelte dudes and buff babes no matter how young or old, no matter how heavy.
All that about flesh and bone and then the photo ...
Deep breath. Must get ready for work. Really, I must.
Very soon.
Yes. Mmmm.
[Thank you, A. --fl]
I know the human body is amazing and intricate but seeing it laid out like that just increased those feelings for me.
My favourite moment was while viewing the figure holding his skin. An older couple wandered up and stood next to me, looked at the figure and then the man turned to his wife and said "What are those two sacks hanging from his abdomen?". My eyebrows flew up and I snorted to myself :)
[The skin guy was pretty wild, but not really my favorite -- it seemed more like a stunt. I think we spent the most time looking at the archer right by the exit, but then we spent a lot of time working our way back towards the front. You're right about how incredibly complex we are. Thanks, J. --fl]
I saw Body Worlds II...did III have any clits? Because II sure as heck didn't.
[Body Worlds III has clits and labia. It's a little jarring at first they way they preserve noses, navels, genitals, lips, eyes, and fingertips, but it also really, really helps the untrained eye anchor the inside view with the familiar (but missing) outside view. Thanks, Shakes. --fl]