Body Worlds and Material Girl

Body Worlds
Body Worlds is an exhibit of plastinated human corpses that German scientist Gunther Van Hagens made. He came up with the science behind plastination and created the exhibits. These exhibits are designed to teach about human anatomy as well as show what happens to the body under different situations.

Material Girl
This article looks at body image in a postmodern perspective. It describes how the postmodern perspective is that we are free from bodily determinism. This article claims that the postmodern perspective is that we are the sculptors of the plastic of our body. This article argues that in our freedom we then chose to conform to cultural norms which in reality ends with us not being free. This article explores through looking at different media that our perception is that we aren't affected when in reality we are constantly bombarded by reminders of what the cultural norm is. It looks at how changing the body to become more like the cultural ideal is framed in such a way that it appears to be an individual choice for difference instead of a cultural push for sameness.

Key terms
Postmodern Perspective- A perspective that is a reaction to the modernist it takes personal opinion and personal choice as the most important.
Plastination- A process by which organic matter is preserved in plastic.
Gunther Van Hagens – German scientist who invented plastination and also Body Worlds.

Questions
Why are Body Worlds exhibits so controversial?
How are people encouraged to shape their own bodies?
What technological advances have made it possible to shape our own bodies?
Why is Madonna a good example of plasticity?
In what ways has culture shaped our personal choices about our bodies?