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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In general, science museums do not regulate the morality <strong>of</strong> the science, technology or<br />
advancements which they promote with the obvious exception <strong>of</strong> infectious disease. In an<br />
interview, an employee <strong>of</strong> The Great Lakes Museum <strong>of</strong> Science and Industry in Cleveland where<br />
Body Worlds 2 was on display, I cheerfully discussed the familiar perspective recycled from von<br />
Hagen’s own mantra, that the exhibit was an extension <strong>of</strong> the achievements <strong>of</strong> past anatomists.<br />
She also confided that she likes to ask the children visiting the exhibit if they eat chicken; she<br />
then makes an association between the muscle tissue <strong>of</strong> the plastinates and fried chicken. While<br />
this may be an accurate comparison, it illustrates the lax attitude on the part <strong>of</strong> the organizations<br />
hosting Body World’s to <strong>for</strong>mally educate their staff or address the substantial impact on the<br />
children who are visiting the exhibit.<br />
In the audience <strong>of</strong> the Chicago Body Worlds exhibition during the day <strong>of</strong> my visit the majority<br />
<strong>of</strong> participants were children’s groups. Dr. von Hagen’s IfP produces workbooks geared toward<br />
non-biology instruction at the elementary, middle and high school levels. The concepts <strong>of</strong> von<br />
Hagen’s work, while inarguably valuable in the field <strong>of</strong> scientific medicine, are a labyrinth <strong>of</strong><br />
ethical and aesthetic distinctions. The debate, widely ignored in the artistic community, is<br />
seemingly being predetermined in the minds <strong>of</strong> the visiting youth <strong>of</strong> today’s exhibitions.<br />
In Associated Press Reports, the practice <strong>of</strong> Plastination is denounced by Lutheran and<br />
Catholic Church <strong>of</strong>ficials 11 . However, in a press release written by Dr. von Hagen on his Body<br />
Worlds website on April 8, 2005 entitled “Thoughts on Pope John Paul II Being Plastinated”, 12<br />
he claims to have worked preserving relics <strong>for</strong> the Catholic Church (albeit the church denied the<br />
opportunity <strong>for</strong> Dr. von Hagen to plastinate the Pontiff’s heart).<br />
As an artist, one wonders if von Hagen feels there is any obligation to the art itself. If so, at<br />
what price does he achieve this? The rate <strong>of</strong> demand <strong>for</strong> von Hagen’s Plastination exhibitions<br />
make it is plausible to consider the commercial value <strong>of</strong> the plastinates as art objects themselves.<br />
This argument raises multiple ethical ambiguities such as the valuation <strong>of</strong> monetary worth 13 <strong>of</strong><br />
the plastinate and the notion that these art objects could be sold to a public audience based on<br />
their popularity.<br />
Von Hagen and Angelina Whalley, the Managing Director <strong>of</strong> the IfP, indirectly address these<br />
issues in their pamphlet, “Donating Your Body <strong>for</strong> Plastination.” An individual interested in<br />
donating his/her body <strong>for</strong> plastination is required to complete a consent <strong>for</strong>m. While it implicitly<br />
states that the IfP does not “give” human specimens to private individuals, the IfP reserves the<br />
right to sell the plastinated body/portions there<strong>of</strong> to “educational establishments to finance the<br />
work <strong>of</strong> the IfP.” 14 The concept <strong>of</strong> funding private research or <strong>for</strong> development <strong>of</strong> a plastinate<br />
museum, as stated on the consent <strong>for</strong>m, raises the notion <strong>of</strong> the infallibility <strong>of</strong> the corporation as<br />
well as von Hagen.<br />
11<br />
Scislowska, Monica. “German Who Turns Corpses into Art Raises Deep Suspicion in Poland.”<br />
Associated Press, March 1, 2005.<br />
12<br />
For additional in<strong>for</strong>mation see, “Thoughts on Pope John Paul II Being Plastinated”, April 8, 2005,<br />
www.Bodyworlds.com/en/pages/Presse.asp.<br />
13<br />
Initial study suggests that under The Freedom <strong>of</strong> In<strong>for</strong>mation Act any citizen <strong>of</strong> the Unites States has the right to<br />
review the importation documents <strong>for</strong> commercial entities <strong>of</strong> materials entering the country. For U.S. Customs<br />
purpose display, exhibition materials are subject to duty and thereby require a commercial value <strong>for</strong> assessment<br />
purposes.<br />
14<br />
Von Hagen, Gunther and Angelina Whalley. Donating Your Body <strong>for</strong> Plastination. Heidelberg: Institute <strong>for</strong><br />
Plastination, 2004.<br />
Meeting <strong>of</strong> Minds <strong>2006</strong> 127