Gazing into the Face of Death

[similiesslip]

Rituals of death often define a culture. Many societies have strict ideas of what should be done with the husk a human leaves behind at death.

Comments

[team_jessie]

I've seen the Bodyworlds exhibit when it came through Philly a while back. I really enjoyed it!

Reverence is shown for the donors at - quite literally - every turn. Names, ages and even geographical information about the bodies are witheld from the spectators out of respect. Also because it isn't the point of the display.

The blackened lungs of a lifelong cigarette smoker were on display next to a huge receptable where people were asked to throw away their cigarettes and quit on the spot. There were HUNDREDS of packs in there. Seeing the damage up close was a pretty forceful argument.

I was pregnant when I viewed the exhibit, and even went ahead and walked through the preserved fetal remains. One woman (and her unborn child) died while 5 months pregnant, and her body is on display as a study in human pregnancy. I felt a little weird looking at it all in the state I was in. It seems impossible to remove emotion from the experience completely, but I still understood the importance.

In death, these people have become a type of medical pioneer. It struck me as one of the most generous things they could do.

[similiesslip]

I wondered if any commentor would have seen the exhibit for themselves. I have not had the chance. I agree that it probably is a big health help to others to see the difference in smoker's lungs vs. healthy.

Thanks so much for telling me your experience!