Claire Hamman

Perception of Cadavers and Contraceptives

A glimpse into the portrayal of scientific artifacts

I began the tour with viewing various bones, organs and seemingly dull parts of the body; as I meandered my way further into the exhibit I found myself staring at displays of various specimens in more and more peculiar positions and layouts. I was in awe of the method of preservation and of the artistic ability the creators must have had. Each plasticized cadaver in the “Body Worlds II” exhibit, the pregnant female, the horse riding man, and the man with the skin “suit” to name a few, left a lasting impression on me about the science of the human body. The exhibit’s website, http://www.thetech.org/bodyworld, states that its purpose is to “educate the public about the inner workings of the human body and to show the effects of lifestyle choices.” The ways in which the specimens are oriented for the public eye is a unique way in which the creators intended to accomplish this goal. Other scientific museums and exhibits have specific goals for their displays as well. As I viewed the Percy Skuy’s Contraception Exhibit in Case Western Reserve University’s Dittrick Medical History Library, I saw various forms of contraceptives, ranging from the obscure methods to those that I am more familiar with. The collection illustrates a theme centered on “Science, Society, and Stories” through its specimens. The Body Worlds II Exhibit as well as the Percy Skuy Contraception Exhibit both examine science through their presentations, but the way in which objects are displayed; dead bodies and old contraceptive methods; may create a learning discrepancy in some visitors. The difference of perception that could potentially be caused by the bias or lack there of, and the portrayal of specimens in these exhibits may influence the knowledge that the public could learn.
The science that underlies the Body Worlds exhibit (BW) is that of biological impact, how the body functions in different situations. Over “200 real human specimens, including whole-body plastinates, individual organs, organ configurations and transparent body slices” draw visitors to the show (thetech.org). People are able to wander through and view objects at their leisure, but what makes BW so distinct is the way in which these bodies are displayed. Unlike the Dittrick Medical History Library, where ancient contraceptive devices are tagged and displayed in cases, BW takes a more interactive approach. The plastinates offer the visitor a new, and often controversial, look at the human body. Each specimen is sculptured artistically to show how the body’s workings carry out specific actions such as skiing, riding a horse, kicking a soccer ball, and numerous others. A New York Times article entitled ‘China Turns out Mummified Bodies for Displays’, discusses BW creator Dr. von Hagen’s method and form of plastination; in the article he even admits that “these positions are controversial” (http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/08/08/business/worldbusiness/08bodies.html?pagewanted=print). The educational purpose of these cadavers is then diminished by the artistic nature of presentation and the way in which people perceive them.
The Percy Skuy Contraceptive Collection in the Dittrick Medical History Museum is another exhibit that illustrates a controversial topic. Containing over 650 artifacts, it is centered on “an intriguing intersection of science and society” (case.edu). Previously in society, some saw contraceptive methods that are in very common practice today as contentious. Times have since changed, cultural, health, economic and societal influences have all contributed to society becoming more accepting of contraceptive use, and “the proportion of women aged 15-44 currently using a contraceptive increased from 56% in 1982 to 64% in 1995” (www.guttmacher.org). The Skuy Project, unlike BW, does not use artistic means to showcase the specimens of its various IUDs, condoms, birth control pills, and the like; they are displayed so that no bias is placed on a visitor. This allows the individual to make connections to the theme of “Science, Society, and Stories” based on what they have seen and not what the creator imposes on them.
As seen in looking at the ways that an audience can interpret the artifacts in both BW and the Percy Skuy Collection the perception of an audience is greatly influenced by the manner in which the artifacts are displayed. Because of the artistic flair and lack of societal contributions that BW exhibits, the information that someone receives from this source may be the creators’ opinions rather than scientific facts. For example, a trend of sexism can be seen in the way that the bodies are presented. According to radicalphilosophy.com, the men are displayed in “heroic” stances such as “the horseman,” “the swordsman,” and “the muscle man,” while the female is depicted in more passive roles such as “the swimmer,” “the ballerina,” and the “reclining pregnant woman.” The scientific component still exists in each specimen, but the way in which they are portrayed may influence information that a viewer may receive. In the Percy Skuy Collection the components of science, society, and stories are all interrelated to show background relating to the artifacts presented. The unbiased nature of this exhibit allows the viewer to make his or her own assumptions and ideas.
Both of these exhibits aim to educate the public, though they accomplish this in two distinct ways. It is up to the viewer to use discretion towards the way that the specimens are displayed and the influence that this artistic nature can have on their opinions. I thought that I had prepared myself enough before walking into the Body Worlds II exhibit last year; I was ready to view pure scientific information and not Dr. von Hagen’s ideas about the “effects of life style choices.” After considering these ideas about how BW can influence a viewer, different portrayals of specimens have the ability to alter a viewer’s opinion and what they in turn will learn from an exhibit. Now I will be more cautious when I walk into a museum or exhibit and think about the factors that may be influencing my own perception.

Works Cited
10 Nov. 2007 < http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_contr_use.html>.

10Nov.2007.

10 Nov. 2007 .

9 Nov. 2007 < http://www.thetech.org/bodyworld/faq.pdf>.

9 Nov. 2007 .

Barboza, David. New York Times. 8 Aug. 2006. 9 Nov. 2007 .