(Warning, This blog post may contain graphic content.
Viewer discretion is advised.)
Some of you may have noticed that lately I've been spending a lot of time on digg. After overcoming the extreme noises and annoyances and confusions at the start of it, I've learned to deal with it and streamlined it and now it's been quite fun and quite addicting too.
And so now I'm always on the look-out for interesting stories or news or sites or content to submit. Not too long ago I dropped on a blog post by a fellow entrecarder, Hugo from the StreamLined Mind and was quite happy that that submission made it to the frontpage: Poken: The Future of Social Networking? (source).
One of the nice (or not so nice) things I've noticed with digg is that one can get into contact with or get exposed to a lot of different stuff, a lot of strange stuff on the internet, either by shouts by fellow diggers or by discovering them yourself.
Well, here's one horrible story I've found on abcnews.com, that I submitted (that didnt get much attention) called the "Anatomy of the Worldwide Body Trade." (Viewer Discretion Advised)
It was about ABC's 20/20 news investigation into "the business of bodies -- real human bodies skinned, trimmed, pickled and cured in plastic" and "the ghoulish process to its origins." What 20/20 found out was that these real human bodies, these humans that you see in "exhibition" all around the country originated from China. And there's some convincing evidence that these "bodies" are of executed "criminals" or political prisoners, missing peoples. There's links to other galleries and notes about the scientist who invented this whole process, called plastination. Please take the time to visit the links.
For couple of years I've been seeing these gruesome advertisements to "The Bodies" exhibit plastered all around New York's buses and subway cars. And I've had friends inviting me wanting me to go with them to see the exhibit, but I've always declined. Something is just totally horrible wrong about this whole thing, in my opinion, and I'm not sure how to express it. (I've been also going through some major writer's block lately.)
So I selected a digital photo of an advertisement on a bus depot and opened it up in "photoshop" and started to work with it. In the process, I decided to record it all into a video. Here's the result of that session, a rough draft / work in progress, time elapsed video set to the music by Indonesian rock star Anggun, the song is called "Human":
For more information:
The Bodies Exhibition (wikipedia)
"Human" by Anggun
14 comments:
I will say that is damn disturbing. I have heard some doctors - the honest ones. Yes. They still exist - protest the Bodies exhibit. I don't think I will be going to it.
Thank God for skin. This exhibit bothers me.
Hi Merry Christmas
I've seen ADs for this here in my state but I didn't go. If I want to see Human Anatomy, I'd rather read it in a book. Looking at a body knowing that it belonged to a person creeps me out. I know a friend who went to the exhibition. To each his own.
Uh-Oh Hot Dog!
I need to go see this exhibit. I enjoy stuff like this, and I've been hearing about it for so long!
@The Fitness Diva oh no! I'm not going with you :P
@Anonymous ???????
@Babette I agree, especially bodies that are being put use without permission.
@Aree Hi Merry Christmas to you too
@MikeC Yes! Let's protest, or boycott it.
I took my daughter to see this when it was at the Science Centre in Toronto, It truly is fascinating! What freaked me out was when my daughter pointed out the eyelashes!
Last year when my oldest was in 6th grade her grade went to see the exhibit in Milwaukee. They did not tell the full extent of what would be shown so I allowed her to go but went with her. I am very glad that I went along. They claim the exhibit is "scientific" and "artistic", I do not agree. There were a few things displayed in that manner but the big exhibits are not. The big exhibits are of bodies ripped apart and posed into gruesome positions. There was nothing natural about it. Most of the kids were embarrassed that the exhibits were of males with everything skinned and hanging. My daughter was very upset. This is what she said..."Why would anyone want to stand in a room full of hundreds of dead people? These people had families that lost them." There was a little door on the side of the exhibit with a sign that said there were bodies of children inside. There was no way that I could go in there!
Sorry my comment was so late and long.
Just dropping by to wish you a Happy New Year!
Fitness Diva
AAArrgggghh, that freaked me out, I should of paid more attention to the viewer discretion, but that's me, can't resist looking at something that maybe I shouldn't LOL
I have always wanted to go to that. Its a little disturbing, kinda gross, but I just can't help but be a wee bit interested.
@Melissa it's not late and long, no need to apologize :) I didnt know about the children part of the exhibit... that seems... It seems like these exhibits and the purveyors of these bodies are making lotsa of money, millions and i'm not sure any of the immediate families are getting any compensation.
I've seen the pics of the bodies "ripped' apart sort deconstructed? a lot like that artist who sliced up the horses... that causes a stir, I just can't remember that artist right now.
@The Fitness Diva Happy New Year! I'm not making any new years resolutions!
@Blazing Minds LOl! oh no! I was planning on re-doing these, and take it further and "paint" in the persons... but I dont think i'll revist these anymore.
@rusty lately I've been doing some thinking on death, and the culture of death... wondering how other cultures view death and dead... there's definitely a fascination with the disturbing and gross here.
@Cupid is dead thank goodness for skin :)
Happy New Year 2009!
Nice work Ms. O.D.!!!
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