Reading the body at von Hagen’s ‘body worlds’

Based on data collected through familiarization and netnography we explore the different readings of the body at Von Hagen’s Body Worlds. We ground our data in a reading and interpretation that draws upon some of the debates from a cross disciplinary social science analysis. These include cultural anthropology, sociology and psychology. We present five explanatory themes; the body as spectacle; the body as mortality salience; the body as commodity; the body as machine and the dehumanized body. In doing so we also respond to the call for greater attention to the consumer perspective within the field of thanatourism.

► Draws on familiarization and netnography. ► Contributes to the literature on thanatourism through a cross disciplinary analysis. ► Proposes five key readings of the exhibited body.