RSS Turtle Bay anticipates Bodies Revealed
By Doni Greenberg • Apr 3rd, 2008 • Category: THOUGHT: What's on Doni's mind
A motley collection of human body organs rested on a banquet table yesterday beside Dr. Roy Glover at Turtle Bay Exploration Park.
Talk about your ultimate visual aide: one human heart, a brain, a healthy lung, a sorry-looking smoker’s lung and a cut-away slice of leg, bone, tendons and all. The body parts rested beside press packets and fact sheets as Glover, A Michigan professor emeritus of anatomy and cell biology, spoke with north state media folks about Bodies Revealed, the superstar exhibit Turtle Bay has booked from May through August.
The above-mentioned body parts, preserved in a polymer resin material, were mere samples to illustrate the complex procedure that can take as long as one-and-a-half years to turn an entire human body and its parts into such rubberized versions of their previous forms that it’s easy to forget they’re not just Halloween props.
They’re real. Human body parts. Dissected and extracted from real people. That, of course, always begs the next flurry of questions that arise about the bodies from China used in the exhibit. These inquiries follow Glover around the country as he discusses this fascinating yet often controversial exhibit.
Whose bodies provided the organs? Did the people or their families give consent? What about that “20/20″ television special? And what about the California Assembly Bill that protests exhibits like Bodies Revealed?
Glover took his time to answer all those questions, but in the end, he said he felt 100-percent confident that Premier Exhibitions, the company behind Bodies Revealed and Bodies . . . The Exhibition, would never jeopardize its reputation or risk shareholders’ investments by using bodies gained through dubious, unethical or illegal means.
What Glover obviously preferred to discuss was his prediction that Bodies Revealed would educate, fascinate, inspire and enlighten Turtle Bay visitors. He spoke with a preacher’s conviction about his earnest belief that Bodies Revealed is a life-changing and even behavior-changing exhibit because it allows us to see how our life choices affect our health, and how our choices are reflected in our bodies.
About 8 million people have already seen some version of the Bodies Revealed exhibit, Glover said, and overall, the exhibits have been well-received, with the utmost of dignity and respect.
Bodies Revealed at Turtle Bay will consist of nine complete galleries in which about 10 to 12 bodies and their parts will be displayed, Glover said.
This was a relief for me since I wondered if Redding would get a much smaller exhibit – a Bodies Lite, if you will – with just an elbow here, a rib there, an ear there, and so forth.
I’m a bit familiar with this exhibit since I had the honor of attending it – or its similar competitor – in Prague last year. I confess that although I’ve always had a fascination with anything related to medical science as it relates to the human body, I entered the exhibit slightly worried about how I’d handle the gross-out factor.
I did feel slightly queasy at some parts, but mainly, I was absolutely riveted and enthralled. One particular memory sticks with me: a skinless man kicking a soccer ball. That’s one of those images you just don’t shake overnight.
Turtle Bay anticipates — hopes — that Bodies Revealed will be quite popular. Therefore, the museum asks that people choose a day to attend and buy their tickets in advance of that date.
Meanwhile, Glover will soon pack up his suitcase of body parts and take his talk on the road again to another city.
And I thought taking a laptop through airport security was a hassle.
Advance purchase tickets — specific to the date of guests’ visits — are available starting Friday from Turtle Bay’s ticketing agent, the Redding Convention Center Box Office.
Online: http://ci.redding.ca.us/convcenter/index.htm
By phone: 530-225-4150 888-225-4150 (California calls only)
In person: (Advance) at the Convention Center Box Office, 777 Auditorium Dr.
Turtle Bay Visitor’s Center: (The day of your visit.)
Prices:
Adults (13 – 64) $23
T.B. member Adults: $16
Seniors (65+) $19
Children (4 – 12) $19T.B. member senior/child $13
Doni, I have been fascinated with the bodies exhibit. It was on display while I was in New York. However, I since saw a show on Discovery where it exposed that the bodies are from prisoners in China who died and their bodies were confiscated illegally to used for this exhibit. Their families were interviewed and very upset. Have you heard anything about that?
Deb
Hi to Deb and Doni: These bodies were all legally donated to a medical schoool in China. Other exhibitions have utilized “unclaimed bodies” but not this one. These bodies remain the property of the medical schools. Turtle Bay excercised extraordinary diligence to ascertain that these bodies were donated. It is fascinating presentation to see this and you come away with a feeling of awe and reverence at the complexity and majestic of our bodies. Judy
This exhibit is very interesting to me, since I am taking anatomy this semester in my quest to become an RN. I am sure any shock value will be lost on me though, since I have been working on cadavers since February now and don’t even flinch anymore. I hope I can make it over to Redding to check it out!
The human body is so complex and fascinating. It really is amazing.
I have to dissent. I’m troubled by the assertion that “The Exhibition, would never jeopardize its reputation or risk shareholders’ investments by using bodies gained through dubious, unethical or illegal means.” How many non-dubious and ethical ways are there to obtain body parts for a traveling side show? I carry an organ-donor card- but certainly not with the intent of having my body parts exhibited for profit or entertainment. With modern imaging and modeling techniques, it seems the only purpose served by this display IS the gross-out factor. This is disgusting.
To the other Michele (spelled wrong, LOL!!):
One can learn SO much more about the human body by seeing its gross (whole) anatomy than they can through imaging and modeling techniques. Why do you think medical students work on cadavers? I would not have learned half of what I know right now, like where certain nerves are, what muscles do what actions, etc., had I not seen it on the cadavers myself.
Also, a lot of people request their bodies be donated to science and end up at medical and school facilities all over the country. Being an organ donor is much different than donating your body to science. Our three cadavers - who used to be living, breathing people - all signed paperwork when they were alive (or had their loved ones sign it) giving permission for their bodies to be donated, preserved, dissected and inspected by college students in a learning environment. They knew they would be on “display” for years wherever they ended up. And when they’re done at our school, their remains (which we have to keep every speck of anything dissected) are cremated and returned to the family. I bet more people donate their bodies to science than you realize, and some probably ended up in shows such as this.
So anyway, other Michele, if you don’t agree with it, don’t spend your money on it. No one is forcing anyone else to visit this exhibit. But you don’t have the right to take away this opportunity from those of us who WANT to see it for learning purposes, especially for those of us going into the medical field. Thank you.
Um…”legally donated” bodies from China? The country that gave us tainted pet food, lead contaminated toys, etc.? The country that uses Google and other internet providers to identify political dissenters for arrest and persecution? The country of forced abortion for population control? The country currently beating and shooting Buddhist monks? What does “legal” and “ethical” mean in the context of dealings with such a country? Pardon me if I pass on this exhibition.
2-L Michelle:
I appreciate your perspective and have (and expressed) no objection to the use of human bodies (with informed consent and adequate controls) for scientific research and medical education. My problem is with this sensationalist (”Bodies Revealed!”) Barnum & Bailey style exhibit of bodies that I doubt were freely and knowingly donated for this purpose. I also didn’t say anything about stopping anyone else from going. But clearly, you and others in the medical community have more dignified, controlled and legitimate venues in which to view and learn about the human body. I just can’t set aside that these are real people, someone’s loved ones, being hauled about without compassion or dignity.
The question is for Michele or anybody that wants to answer this question. You are stating that you believe this exhibit to be a ‘circus’ type of exhibit that travels around for others to see. Although I haven’t seen an exhibit like this yet, I would imagine that it is much different from a ‘circus’ type of environment such as you would see with the world’s smallest horse or whatever is being shown.
The question is this: how would you propose educating those of us that aren’t attempting to learn about the human body without going through an education program such as a Registered Nurse or a Medical Doctor? It seems to me that it is established to provide us outside of the medical community an avenue of learning that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Of course, the exhibit is completely voluntary and nobody is forcing others to see it and I plan on visiting this exhibit before it leaves in September.