Should human cadavers be displayed as art?

There's currently a major exhibit  in various U.S. cities (here called "Bodies: the Exhibition") and Europe that's caused controversy in the past few years. Here's an excerpt from one early story:

Plastination is undoubtedly a trailblazing development in medicine, particularly for the training of physicians. Accordingly, there were no objections against the exhibit from the medical profession. However loud protests have been heard from the churches and organisations or individuals close to them. They made every effort to prevent the exhibit being held. The Catholic and Protestant churches both declared that the exhibit was not only a breach of ethical and moral values, but also flew in the face of Christian principles and even of natural law. Human dignity must be respected after death as well, they said.

Can someone show me some evidence on this?  Should dinosaur bones be displayed as art?

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After looking through some relevant websites, I think  "cadavers" is the proper terminology here, despite my initial squeamishness: "Should human cadavers be displayed as art?"

I also think this topic should remain specific to dead bodies.  It's enough of an issue on it's own, we really do not need to expand into other areas.  Certainly, further issues can be proposed.

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It's a great issue, but I wonder if we need to say "dead bodies" (unless we go for the shudder-inducing "cadavers" or equally creepy "corpses"). So as not to imply performance- or living-art type exhibits featuring breathing beings.

i still love this issue

I"m not sure it should be expanded beyond human bodies as I think it involves permission and respect for the dead, neither of which we regularly extend to animals.

I'd like to see this issue expanded beyond "human bodies." It's been encountered with animals as well, like in the famous "Sensation" exhibit that pitted Rudy Giuliani against the art world forever and always.

To answer Eddie's question, absolutely. Actually the issue is very much international. It involves alleged usage of bodies without permission from Chinese prisons and what not. Go back to the prior comment history or watch my thesis on the subject... if you have 30 minutes to kill.

prior comment history for this issue can be found by clicking here.  please continue to post your comments on this thread though. 

Is this exhibit going national?  I live in the Tampa area so I'm familiar with the exhibit and the controversy, but is it a nationally-recognized issue?

Yes, it is an extremely controversial topic. Check out the original posting of this issue in health or science... can't remember which one, I link to some things.

I can't get excited about this. Are there any threats of censorship?

how about:

Should human bodies be displayed as art?