Examples of taxidermied humans are really quite rare.
Far too often other forms of preservation, such as mummification and embalming
(Lenin and Evita Peron come immediately to mind) are indiscriminately
lumped under the heading of "taxidermy".
The General Public's current moral
viewpoint of bodies on display is that if they are taxidermied,
it's "offensive". As with taxidermied pets, I suspect
that the association of Taxidermy as Trophy has something to do with this
knee-jerk reaction of righteous indignation.
On the "acceptable" list are bodies that are embalmed
(or not) in open casket displays, Bog People, Egyptian mummies and all sorts
of bits of saints.
Becoming very popular, and therefore acceptable, are bodies
preserved by plastination (Gunther von Hagens). This is in part
due to the display venue being changed from art museums to science museums.
(They also have very little remaining skin.)
The context of display certainly has it's moral politics and science museums
are by no means exempt from public scrutiny. The
few known remaining examples of humans preserved thorough the taxidermy
process are hidden away from public view and outcry. If displayed
they run the risk of being targeted by outspoken morality minders and
destroyed.
|