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

[faerie_spark]

I do think the combination of art and science is interesting, makes the exhibit less gruesome in a way. I don't think I'd want to see that, but I do think that the workings of the body don't have to be this strange mystery. Has he gone too far? I imagine that he'll have a huge backlash, but so do most forward thinkers. His exhibit isn't to my taste, but I'm not sure if that's because it makes me squirm or if it's because it's just not to my taste. Perhaps I'm more of a earth and flowers girl.

I have some friends, a couple in their early sixties, who, though they live here in suburbia really do belong in the mountains. They're the original hippies. Anyway, after their last dog died, they preserved her skin, as one would with a rabbit fur or fox tail. The woman told me it was one of the most spiritual experiences she'd ever had, and while it wouldn't be for me, for them, I can totally see it. Now their Della is on the back of the couch with the rabbit fur and bear fur.

Excellently written piece and good job tackling something taboo.

[similiesslip]

Though I love my dogs, I can't see skinning them after death however, like you say, if that works for your friends then that was the right choice for them.

I'm not sure if it was a good idea to use this for the topic but it seemed to fit the idea of a travesty. I'm glad people are commenting as it seems to be a contraversial exhibit so it's interesting to hear many different opinions on it.