Bodies: The Exhibition | Teen Ink

Bodies: The Exhibition

March 5, 2010
By ElephantGirl523 SILVER, Brooklyn, New York
ElephantGirl523 SILVER, Brooklyn, New York
6 articles 0 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Theodor Geisel


You’ve probably seen the ads for the Bodies exhibit, that features real bodies. I got to actually see it, on a seventh grade science trip to the exhibit in South Street Seaport, NYC.

My science class was pretty typical, so half of them were really excited, half were grossed out, and the rest didn’t really care where we were going, as long as it meant we got out of class. But for me, the wannabe doctor, this was the best possible field trip ever.

After we got into the exhibit, I was feeling pretty good, looking at the skeletons, and then we moved in to the muscular room. I walked around, filling in my worksheet, when I started to feel kind of dizzy, and my head felt heavy. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes, I felt even worse. My other symptoms were still there, and now my head hurt. It felt as if my brain was suddenly expanding and forcing my skull to stretch. I still felt dizzy, and now the world dimmed so I could barely see.

I need to sit down, I thought, and moved toward the bench. Wavy lines appeared in front of me, like on one of those old T.V.s with beat up screens. There was no more room on the bench. Through my fading vision, I could barely make out who was sitting there, and my tongue wouldn’t work to tell them to move over and make room for me.

I need to sit down, I thought, but I couldn’t seem to move, so I clumsily fell to my knees. I felt as if I had a swarm of bees buzzing around in my head, and the honey they were making was clogging up my thoughts. Now black and white dots blinked in front of my eyes, and I thought of ants having a snowball fight. I was too dizzy to tell one of the teachers, and as soon as I thought that, my brain erased the thought. Then the ants got bigger, overtaking the snowballs, until there were no snowballs left, only an army of black ants, marching across my vision and I heard them marching tiny little ant feet going faster and faster and then a dull thud as my head hit the floor.

I had fainted in the middle of the bodies exhibition. A week later, I went back with my dad. Once again, it made me feel dizzy. Everyone agreed-the sight of those bodies made me faint.

For me, this meant I couldn’t see the rest of the exhibition. It meant that all my friends were asking me what it felt like to pass out. Most of all, it meant I could never go to medical school. I couldn’t be a doctor.


The author's comments:
Fainting was one of the scariest things that has ever happened to me. Writing helped me come to terms with it.

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This article has 6 comments.


on Mar. 18 2010 at 3:15 pm
ElephantGirl523 SILVER, Brooklyn, New York
6 articles 0 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Theodor Geisel

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

I don't think the bodies were completely illegal, though some of the people may have been misled.

on Mar. 18 2010 at 11:11 am
~Wolf-Woman~ PLATINUM, Carthage, Missouri
24 articles 10 photos 31 comments
Do you really want to be a doctor? If that is your dream then you should pursue it. You can get over your whole fainting spell. You will be able to get past it. I bet some doctors had problems at first, but just got use to being around blood, bodies, etc. If they did so will you. Don't let that one incident stop you from reaching your dream. If you decide that it is an eye opener and a sign telling you not to go into the medical field then so be it. I hope you find the true thing you want to do in your life.

And do you really believe the museum people? Of course they would tell you that all the bodies were legal. I still believe that the bodies were illegally harvested and that the museum is a sick joke. But that is just my opinion.

on Mar. 12 2010 at 5:05 pm
ElephantGirl523 SILVER, Brooklyn, New York
6 articles 0 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Theodor Geisel

Yeah, there was this whole issue that people thought that the bodies were from prisoners forced to agree or people who thought their bodies were going to medical research, no exhibit display. In fact, when I first got there they assured us that all of the bodies were legal. However, most of them weren't doing normal things, most were just certain body parts.

I think that part of the reason I fainted was because it was really warm in there and the lighting was really dramatic, but it definitely had to do with the bodies. However, I'm glad I found out now rather than later because I feel I still have a chance to find something else to do with my life.

on Mar. 12 2010 at 2:01 pm
sunnyhunny PLATINUM, Litchfield, New Hampshire
22 articles 3 photos 329 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.&quot;<br /> -Ghandi

I saw that exihbit. I found it interesting yet disturbing.

on Mar. 12 2010 at 11:06 am
~Wolf-Woman~ PLATINUM, Carthage, Missouri
24 articles 10 photos 31 comments
I remember when that exhibit came to my state. All my friends wanted to go, bit I refused. There was a rumor going around that those bodies were illegally obtained. Those bodies, those people, did not legally donate their bodies to the exhibit. They were stolen from who knows where. I was also not willing to go because I felt that is was just sick to put those people on display doing normal things like playing soccer. It's degrading to them. I think its okay if you just display them, but dont put the body on display doing somethnig normal. It's just plain creepy.

But anyways...I don't know what I would do if I were in you're shoes. I also want to maybe enter into the medical field. I am really sorry that you won't ever be able to acheive you're dream. But if you really want to become a doctor you'll find a way passed it.

on Mar. 9 2010 at 7:24 pm
purplegurl523 SILVER, BROOKLYN, New York
6 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Fists in the air, hands on your hair!&quot; ~My math teacher

Ants having a snowball fight! ~_~