For those that haven't yet been to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see the Body Worlds exhibit, it ends on June 1st. The MPM will be running 'round the clock entries over the last few days. "The museum will be open for 63 hours straight - from 9 a.m. [Friday] May 30 to midnight June 1, said museum spokeswoman Mary Bridges." - http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=750429
Can't you just imagine the family-friendly atmosphere of a downtown Milwaukee attraction that's open past bar-time (and then some) over a weekend?
Anyway, if you've been meaning to see Body Worlds and also take the kiddos along (I have some thoughts on that, see below) go during the daytime hours (weekdays recommended) and pony up for parking in a secure lot. Safety first!
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Here are my candid observations on the Body Worlds exhibit. I'll warn you now; some of my observations (as well as the exhibits themselves) are not for the squeamish.
The Good: Lots of organs in display cases, including normal, diseased, and REALLY diseased organs. These are great for making a point to the kids about why you shouldn't do certain things. In my opinion, the two best examples are the lungs and the livers. They clearly label these organs with which ones are the healthy examples, and what it took to get to the diseased and REALLY diseased states. And as for the visual juxtaposition of healthy vs. diseased organs? Subtle as a sledgehammer! (The missus did have a field day at the liver display though, using me as an example of the "fatty liver". Dearest, you knew what you were getting from me since the time we met. But point well taken. And yes, I still love you!). Also the crowd (and it was a crowd!) on the day we went was pretty well behaved and non-pushy. The museum staff seemed nice as well.
A personal aside - the line for Body Worlds starts near the Plains Indian exhibit, and the Plains Indian exhibit still has the semi-hidden push-button to make the rattlesnake's tail rattle. (I have a story about that from a field trip back when I was in the 2nd grade, but I'll save that for another blog).
The Bad: While all of the bodies (and parts) were donated by the now-deceased people during their living years, there were some full-body examples that really scream desecration. I have a real problem with that. There was one in particular (I think it was subtitled "The Phoenix") where they had a woman's blood vessels coming out of her hands in the shape of birds. That is wrong on SO many levels. And as for the other full-body examples where they had people in athletic poses: if you knew they'd be doing that to your body after you've died (and I doubt the people who donated their bodies were informed of how they ultimately would be used), would you allow it? I don't think so.
The Ugly: The unborn children in differing stages of development. And the worst of all, a pregnant woman who died before she gave birth - with baby fully exposed. (Yes, there is a placard stating that the woman knew that she would die before delivering her child into this world and that she voluntarily donated her body and that of her unborn child's for the exhibit). While this section is shielded from the main exhibit, take my advice and heed the posted signs about the "potential" offensiveness of this area. There are things there that no Christian needs to see.
Family UN-friendly warning: Since they are dealing in desecrated corpses of real people, all full-body exhibits are "anatomically correct". While you may be able to steer the kiddos away from the display cases of things they shouldn't see until their wedding night, if you go be prepared to shield their eyes constantly from the full-body exhibits.
In conclusion, get this exhibit Alberta bound a.s.a.p.! (And if you travel to Edmonton to see it, make sure to get a picture next to the Wayne Gretzky statue outside of Rexall Place where the NHL Edmonton Oilers play. That's one memory you won't want to erase.)
