Von Hagens et la fabrique du corps (mort)

Abstract

Continuing an earlier study, "Les images modifies du corps," Revue canadiennede psychanalyse (2014), this article explores the anatomist VonHagens's industrial method of plastinating corpses for museum display. Itis based on interviews of employees working at the Institute for Plastinationin Heidelberg and the analysis of documents supplied by the institute. Thereview of this material concludes that, behind its scientific facade, the plastinationapparatus is perverse. The museum staging of these body imagescreates a stunning and fascinating spectacle. Appealing to a public in searchof shocking sensations, the plastination apparatus might be described asperversive (by analogy with subversive).