Stop Body Worlds
and other exhibits of plasticized bodies
Treat the Human Body with dignity and respect

Visit pages devoted to exhibits in cities across the world "Why is this exhibit wrong? Out of respect for the living, the bodies of the deceased should be treated with respect. By treating our bodies as mere objects like this exhibit does, we cheapen the value of life. As we reduce ourselves to objects, we open ourselves to the attitude that who cares if a few, or a few million, of these objects are damaged or killed. Hitler and Stalin both dehumanized their victims to make their destruction more palatable. The cost to human dignity of this exhibit is incalculable. Is that a price worth paying for things that could be learned just as well by other means? We don't need to see "real" plasticized bodies to know that human beings are complicated and fascinating. In fact we never need real objects to educate ourselves." excerpt from column by Aaron Ginsburg in the Metrowest Daily. In late 2007 there were real picket lines in Ft Lauderdale and in Framingham Massachusetts, where the story was covered by the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe.News: The Church of England in Manchester speaks out about Body Worlds. Visit their no nonsense site.

Everywhere you turn an exhibit of real human bodies is about to open up in a shopping mall or a "science" museum. These exhibits, with names such as Body Worlds, Bodies: the Exposition, and Our Bodies, The Universe Within loudly boast that they consist of plasticized real human bodies. Amsterdam protest to unknown Chinese

In an attempt to defuse our inhibitions and overcome taboos about what may be done with the human body the exhibits claim that they are uniquely educational and that they will inspire people to be more concerned with their health. To questions about the source of the bodies, Body Worlds claims to have obtained permission; other exhibits point to "legal" sources in China(but read the scathing commentary by Eric Heyl.

So what's the problem? The problem is not the source of the bodies. Even if there was no doubt on this count, the exhibits are wrong, and nobody can give you permission to do something that is wrong.

Our natural inhibitions make us uncomfortable with the display of the bodies of the deceased ... It is not always possible or necessary to come up with a reason why something is wrong, but if I was to single out one reason, it would be that we show respect for the living by respecting the remains of the deceased. These exhibits cheapen the value of life . It is a short step to treating people as objects that in their turn are not particularly valuable.

The plasticized real bodies are very unreal, and deny the reality of death. Their public display is convenient for gawking but the purported benefits to science and education originate from Madison Avenue. Most importantly, although the exhibits try to have it both ways and claim to be art as well as science, human beings are not works of art.

Much has been written about these exhibits. An article by Pastor Christoph Reiners which resulted in the Abbotsford BC schools banning field trips influenced me deeply. Norman Lebrecht's article was pungent, and the Dutch philosopher Rob Van Gewen thoroughly discusses the case against as does Rabbi Danny Schiff. Be sure to read Elaine Catz's op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Elaine resigned from the Carnegie Science Center because of her outrage about the exhibit there. Listen to Linda Schulte-Sass explaining how the exhibit is marketed to American audiences.

If you review the links above, and the many comments and the many additional links on this site, you will find that some opponents invoke religion, and some do not. In fact, there are some things that we know are wrong instinctively, and the display of plasticized human bodies for the titillation of the public is one of them.

Aaron Ginsburg Sharon, Massachusetts, USA

Learn and Help:

Articles, Blogs, and commentary Learn the truth about the exhibits.

Read many comments, or make one yourself. If you are uncomfortable about these exhibits you are not alone.
Study Guide for students and educators.
How you can help.
Read how the receipt of a postcard led to the creation of this site.
see how I spread the word.
about me.
Press releases
Site index.
Contact me.
As the exhibits multiply, they are attracting more and more opposition. There has been opposition everywhere the exhibits have been. Individuals and groups have demonstrated (Cincinnati, Dallas, Seattle, San Diego, Columbus, Boston, Amsterdam in Dutch, Guben in German). Court action was attempted in Seattle. In Durham, North Carolina demonstrators were cited for trespassing. A Facebook group in North Carolina called Stop Bodies has 185 members, and NoBodiesforProfit focuses on the source of the bodies. In Pittsburgh Elaine Catz, resigned from the Carnegie Science Center. Visit her eloquent site. In New York artist Frank Shifreen created an impassioned anti-bodies blog after being subjected to the incessant advertising on the bus and subway. In Manchester England The Church of England has been very outspoken.
The facebook version of this site is called Stop Body Worlds et al
Lucebert: "Everything of value is defenseless."

Stop Body Worlds and other exhibits of plasticized bodies Treat the Human Body with dignity and respect

Stop Body Worlds
and other exhibits of plasticized bodies
Treat the Human Body with dignity and respect