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University of Connecticut

Cutting Edge: Re-reading Iconography in Body Worlds

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Over two hundred licensed creations - plastinated human and animal bodies and specimens - are currently on view in each of seven, independently themed exhibits belonging to <em>Gunther von Hagen’s</em> <em>Body Worlds</em>. While academic readers typically exclude these bodies from conversations of art history, in position, one body, <em>Reclining Pregnant Woman</em>, assumes a particularly referential pose from art historical and archetypal Venuses. She is the only female plastinate frozen, cut and flayed in mid-labor, (with child). Yet, when read in comparison with the seminal works of postmodern feminist theory, certain resonances show that formal and contextual applications of visual discourse upon this body become helpful – not only to resuscitate iconographic value, but also to challenge it.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Art History
Year dc:date.available
2012

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • garlick, valerie
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Barry Rosenberg; Sylvia Schafer
  • Alexis L. Boylan

Subjects

dc:subject × 19

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/gs_theses/272
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu:gs_theses-1298

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Connecticut
Base URL
digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

garlick, valerie. Cutting Edge: Re-reading Iconography in Body Worlds. 2012. https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/gs_theses/272