MOM 2006 journal for pdf.pmd - University of Michigan-Flint
MOM 2006 journal for pdf.pmd - University of Michigan-Flint
MOM 2006 journal for pdf.pmd - University of Michigan-Flint
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Although superficial <strong>for</strong>mal comparisons can be made between the historical precedents set by<br />
Leonardo da Vinci and Vesalius, the intentions <strong>of</strong> the creators and von Hagen could not be more<br />
opposed. The commercial successes <strong>of</strong> IfP (contracts with many universities and training<br />
facilities) as well as Body Worlds exhibitions and merchandising far exceeds the potential sought<br />
by either preceding artist. The commercial success <strong>of</strong> von Hagen’s exhibitions is significant.<br />
Body Worlds boasts that an excess <strong>of</strong> 16 million visitors 7 worldwide have flocked to see the<br />
unique spectacle <strong>of</strong> bodies on display. However, the monetary benefit <strong>for</strong> Dr. von Hagen isn’t<br />
limited to exhibition admission costs. Merchandising, 8 publishing workbooks <strong>for</strong> school children,<br />
plastination literature, sponsorship with national corporations 9 as well as holding multiple,<br />
unique exhibitions in logistical proximity to each other add to the monetary success <strong>of</strong> von<br />
Hagen’s Body Worlds.<br />
The central and most dire issue with the conceptual vision <strong>of</strong> Dr. von Hagen’s work is that<br />
whole body plastinates, intended <strong>for</strong> public viewing, are conceived as avant-garde art. This<br />
convergence <strong>of</strong> art and science has resulted in innovative creations that meet aesthetic and<br />
universal standards <strong>of</strong> beauty. It is arguable that the pure <strong>for</strong>m <strong>of</strong> the human body is the epitome<br />
<strong>of</strong> our species’ criteria <strong>for</strong> things which are beautiful.<br />
Plastinates have the potential to become as infamous as Andy Warhol’s repetitious Campbell<br />
Soup compositions. Tolstoy prophesied in his essay, What is Art?, the culmination <strong>of</strong> this<br />
phenomenon,<br />
“In our society the difficulty <strong>of</strong> recognizing the real works <strong>of</strong> art is further<br />
increased by the fact that the external quality <strong>of</strong> the work in false<br />
productions is not only no worse, but <strong>of</strong>ten better, that the real ones; the<br />
counterfeit is <strong>of</strong>ten more effective that the real, and its subject more<br />
interesting. How is one to discriminate? How is one to find a production in<br />
no way distinguished in externals from hundreds <strong>of</strong> thousands <strong>of</strong> others<br />
intentionally made precisely to imitate it?” 10<br />
Contemplation <strong>of</strong> Dr. von Hagen’s plastinates suggest moral ambiguity in opposition to most<br />
art, rather than focus on the objects uniqueness, the plastinates are celebrated <strong>for</strong> their universal<br />
uni<strong>for</strong>mity. This sentiment is amplified by Dr. von Hagen’s recent endeavor to build multimillion<br />
dollar facilities in Dalian, China and Poznan, Poland with the goal <strong>of</strong> building machinery<br />
to manufacture whole-body plastinates.<br />
7<br />
This estimate is according to www.BodyWorlds.com, as <strong>of</strong> March 27, 2005 and does not include current Body<br />
Worlds exhibitions currently on display in three locations in the United States (Chicago, IL and Cleveland, OH).<br />
8<br />
Among the merchandise available from www.BodyWorlds.com are materials seemingly unrelated to Dr. von<br />
Hagen’s scope <strong>of</strong> plastination services. For example, handmade traditional slippers from Kyrgyzstan are available<br />
<strong>for</strong> 18.50E.<br />
9<br />
Bally’s Total Fitness is currently is sponsoring a sweepstakes in conjunction with Body Worlds and The Chicago<br />
Institute <strong>of</strong> Science and Industry. The Hyatt Corporation in Cleveland is cooperating with Body Worlds, The Great<br />
Lakes Science Center and the Rock and Roll Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame to <strong>of</strong>fer discounted luxury rooms and package tickets to<br />
both facilities.<br />
10<br />
Tolstoy, Leo. What is Art? and Essays on Art, 138.<br />
Meeting <strong>of</strong> Minds <strong>2006</strong> 126