Adajian, Thomas. "The definition of art." (2007). Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/art-definition/
This article defines art; it provides various aspects of art. It is important to understand the definition of art, especially in relation to bodyworks as a type of art. With the various definitions presented in this article, it will be then easier to establish whether bodyworks, though classified as contemporary art, qualifies to be described as a form of art. Therefore, this source will help counter the arguments of critics that since bodyworks does not share many characteristics with conventional forms of art, it should not be classified as a type of art.
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Hjemdahl, Anne-Sofie, and Silje Opdahl Mathisen. "Introduction to Bodyworks." Nordisk Museologi 1 (2017): 3-4
This article introduces readers to what bodyworks is. According to the definition provided in the article, bodyworks is a form of art that uses the remains of human beings. Fluids and fats in the tissues of dead bodies are removed, and through a process known as ‘plastination’, the fluids and fats are replaced with plastics, and the body does not decay or smell. This source is relevant in the sense that it defines what bodyworks is to give a clear picture of what this contemporary form of art looks like.
Mirzoeff, Nicholas. Bodyscape: Art, modernity and the ideal figure . Routledge, 2018
This book presents the evolution of art, and mainly focuses on the modern or contemporary forms of art. The book classifies bodyworks as a contemporary type of art and provides reasons why it should be categorized like so. For people who may have arguments concerning bodyworks, the book provides counter arguments as well as strong points to support bodyworks being a form of art; that contemporary art is that type of art that has never existed before, and with this argument, bodyworks qualifies to be a form of contemporary art.
Redman, Samuel. Reconsidering Body Worlds: why do we still flock to exhibits of dead human beings? . [online] The Conversation. Available at: http://theconversation.com/reconsidering-body-worlds-why-do-we-still-flock-to-exhibits-of-dead-human-beings-57024 [Accessed 3 March 2020].
This source outlines a historical account of how bodyworks has come to be embraced as a form of art. Initially, the display of human bodies or body parts was only meant for medical training purposes for medical students. However, people, especially in the United States, would start to be curious about death and the dead bodies. This curiosity began to drive most people towards attending expositions with exhibitions of dead human bodies. This source also provides some of the ethical implications of bodyworks.
Robertson, Jean. Themes of contemporary art . New York: Oxford University Press, 2017
The source defines what contemporary art is. Contemporary art is said to have started in the 1970s up to the present times; that it is a form of art that has never existed before, and that some of the contemporary art forms have elements of surprise, just like bodyworks. Therefore, with the definition of what contemporary art is and what it is not, it becomes easy to establish whether bodyworks is contemporary art or not.
Sluglett, Joseph. "Mummification in Ancient Egypt." West of England medical journal 105.4 (1990): 117
This source provides examples of preservation of human bodies, in a different society; Egypt. Egypt is popular because of its ancient civilization, and style of ruling; it was ruled by kings, who upon dying, would be preserved and buried in tombs. Some bodies of ancient Egyptian kings have been uncovered, and most of the places where these bodies are preserved have become cultural heritage sites. The relevance of this source is that it provides an example, that after all, human beings have always been interested to view ancient preserved human bodies. Therefore, in that sense, there have never been criticisms of viewing of these preserved bodies. In fact some of the preserved bodies attract so many tourists.
Vronskaya, Alla G. "Shaping Eternity: The Preservation of Lenin’s Body." Thresholds (2010): 10-13
This source provides a specific example of a leader’s body, which has been preserved and presented as a nation’s icon; the body of Lenin in Russia. The place where his body lies has become a national museum. The body is not used for any medical purposes, but it is presented as a form of an artifact. Tourists flock the museum to see the body, and the place is highly guarded. Although it can be argued that the body is preserved for political purposes, it is still viewed as an artifact. Such an art of body preservation and exhibition may become a new trend in the future.
Bibliography
Adajian, Thomas. "The definition of art." (2007). Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/art-definition/
Hjemdahl, Anne-Sofie, and Silje Opdahl Mathisen. "Introduction to Bodyworks." Nordisk Museologi 1 (2017): 3-4.
Mirzoeff, Nicholas. Bodyscape: Art, modernity and the ideal figure . Routledge, 2018.
Redman, Samuel. Reconsidering Body Worlds: why do we still flock to exhibits of dead human beings? . [online] The Conversation. Available at: http://theconversation.com/reconsidering-body-worlds-why-do-we-still-flock-to-exhibits-of-dead-human-beings-57024 [Accessed 3 March 2020].
Robertson, Jean. Themes of contemporary art . New York: Oxford University Press, 2017.
Sluglett, Joseph. "Mummification in Ancient Egypt." West of England medical journal 105.4 (1990): 117.
Vronskaya, Alla G. "Shaping Eternity: The Preservation of Lenin’s Body." Thresholds (2010): 10-13.
