Bodies at the Brogan
On January 17th, a slightly creepy but very interesting traveling exhibit opens at the Mary Brogan Museum of Arts and Science. The exhibit, entitled “Our Body – The Universe Within” consists of a nine complete human corpses and a series of other human anatomical specimens. The cadavers have been preserved through a process the exhibit developer calls “plastination” where the natural fluids are replaced with plastic.
The process produces very detailed anatomical specimens preserved at the cellular level. The corpses are dissected carefully so that each exhibit provides a focus on a specific organ system. The preserved and dissected bodies are then posed for display
The exhibit was produced by Premier Exhibitions, an Atlanta company who in addition to “Our Bodies, the Universe Within”, produce two other traveling exhibits of preserved human cadavers and an exhibit featuring artifacts from the doomed ship, the Titanic. While the exact cost of bringing the exhibit to Tallahassee has not been disclosed, the exhibit was expensive to book. Chucha Barber, the CEO of the museum said “The Brogan Museum worked for two years to secure this exhibit and was the first small market in the world to sign a contract.” According to a Brogan spokesperson, this is the first time such an exhibit has been displayed “north of Orlando or south of Mobile, Alabama.
In other cities where this exhibit, or other similar exhibits have been displayed, reactions have been mixed. The exhibits always draw large crowds, but have also drawn a bit of controversy. The bodies come from China and according to the exhibit organizers, are individuals who choose (or had their legal representatives choose) to donate their bodies for science and education. None-the-less, the exhibit has engendered controversy as it’s traveled around the world.
In 2005, the Florida State Anatomical Board attempted to shut down a similar exhibit in Tampa. According to an article in the Columbia (University) News Service, the Board ruled that the display of human remains for profit is unethical. The exhibit company (Premier) said that the Board only had jurisdiction over medical schools and not museums. The Board did not pursue the matter.
The exhibit is expected to draw large crowds. Because of the expense of bringing the exhibition to Tallahassee, entry into the bodies exhibit requires a special ticket and is not included in the general admission to the Mary Brogan museum. Ticket information can be found here.
Images courtesy of the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science.
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This is sinful and wrong. The Bible teaches that our bodies are tempel of Lord God . Not circus play.
Email and twitter results from the “cool or creepy” question – 10 cool, 2 creepy and 1 both.
As a person in the medical field, I have had the opportunity as part of my schooling to study human cadavers. This experience provided a vital understanding of how to best help my patients. I am looking forward to this exhibit because I am sure it will further my knowledge, and inspire even more awe at how wonderfully our Creator formed us. I am even taking my children and am using the opportunity to talk to them about how wonderfully we are made.
Yes, our bodies are indeed a temple and miraculous. That is exactly why many people went to a lot of trouble to put such an ‘exhibit’ together for others to be able to learn by. The exhibit it not ‘circus play’ – it is educational and awe inspiring. Stop to really think about all the wonderous functions your body does for you 24/7 – non stop from conception to death. This exhibit lets one see what we cannot see. These bodies are in no way being dececrated or made fun of . Maybe it will inspire many who see it to ‘treat’ their body as a temple and not take it for granted. Obesity is rampant in our country because we don’t stop to think about how we treat our bodies. I support such a unique exhibit.
Many of these recently young and healthy bodies were Chinese political prisoners. It’s beyond grotesque that those that fight for freedom end up as biological mannequins for our amusement. Totally unethical and beyond any coherent expression of contempt!