Last week in New York I went to BODIES...The Exhibition, one of those human cadaver plastination exhibits derived from Gunther von Hagens' Body Worlds. Among my favorite stops on the anatomical tour was the last--the body of work comprising glimpses of visitors' psychological anatomies. At a table with chairs sat big binders filled with white pages inviting comment. Rather than add to the compendium, I sat and read. In just that one day, hundreds of people had shared their inner thoughts on the thoughtless innards they'd witnessed.
A few notes on the exhibition: most bodies displayed were male. One room featured fetuses and infants in various stages of development, including one still housed in its mother, revealed by way of cutaway. The bodies all come from China, some donated but most unclaimed.
Some comments raised political or ethical concerns. Should people be displayed after death without consent? Should female bodies have been used to illustrate more than just sexual reproduction (or, in one case, obesity)?
Some comments were emotional. One woman wrote that she had had an abortion and became choked up when she reached the fetus room. She requested that all women considering abortion visit the exhibit.
And, unsurprisingly, many comments were inane. "Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door." "Maiden Rulez." "Chinks are dumb and have small dicks."
But below are four of my favorites.
To many wangs. [Double entendre?]
To many dead baby's.I should not have seen this.
Sorry.
DaveSome of it looked like chicken.
mmmmm lolIt was cool and interesting but it made me sick and dizzy and I almost cried.
Call me.
[phone number redacted]
oh. you're IN new york when you say you're in new york? now i get it....
Posted by: leahpeah | June 09, 2006 at 12:05 AM