Controversial Bodies: Thoughts on the Public Display of Plastinated Corpses

Controversial, fascinating, disturbing, and often beautiful, plastinated human bodies—such as those found at Body Worlds exhibitions throughout the world—have gripped the public's imagination. These displays have been lauded as educational, sparked protests, and drawn millions of visitors. This book looks at the powerful sway these corpses hold over their living audiences everywhere.

Plastination was invented in the 1970s by German anatomist Gunther von Hagens. The process transforms living ...