Bodyworks 2: Educational or Offensive?

[Tumblehome]

Is this Education?

I heard on the CBC this morning about an exhibit coming to the Toronto Science Centre that is a display of plasticized human corpses. Real bodies. These are people who signed off on having their remains used as an educational tool to be shown at exhibits around the world.

This didn't orgininate in Canada. The people who put this together are from Germany. The first North American exhibit was in Los Angeles. There is a certain degree of outrage against the display whereever it goes.

Personally I think its a great idea and I plan to view the exhibit. It apparently has a lot of information in it, with the skeletal, nervous, and other systems explained through real human tissue instead of those plastic models that you see at the doctor's offices. The difference in detail is said to be massive (which only makes sense).

What do you folks make of this? Do you find it offensive or educational?

[nene]

Is this Education?

I heard on the CBC this morning about an exhibit coming to the Toronto Science Centre that is a display of plasticized human corpses. Real bodies. These are people who signed off on having their remains used as an educational tool to be shown at exhibits around the world.
If they gave permission for having this done, I don't see a problem.

[TechnoPrincess]

I have seen something very much like this, or a small sampling of this maybe, and found it very interesting.

I don't think it would be appropriate for children 6th grade and younger, but for older kids or college students I think this would be very educational. I think it would be good for any kid that is considering going into a medical related field, or that is already studying in college in one.

[ThomasMore]

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry had a similar display, "The Visible Man," for many years (it might still be there). A cadaver was preserved and thin-sliced. It was probably not as well-done as this display.

As a child, I saw it several times (4th grade through 9th grade), but my revulsion always overcame my curiosity. For that reason, I did not find it a valuable educational tool at those ages.