18th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
An Ethical Criticism of "Body Worlds"
Meghana R. Kunkala
Dr. Kevin M. Minch, Faculty Mentor
Body Worlds is an exhibit of human bodies that have been dissected and contorted into life-like positions that has traveled all across the world. This study will focus on the effectiveness of the exhibit to communicate its purpose by examining the ethical objections that have surfaced, mainly accusations of objectification. Using Martha Nussbaum’s Objectification model, Body Worlds has been found to objectify human bodies and the effects of this objectification include questions of human dignity and the removal of meaning.
Keywords: Ethical Criticism, Body Worlds, Objectification, Martha Nussbaum
Topic(s):Communication
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 39-5
Location: VH 1320
Time: 3:15