University of Tennessee Knoxville Body Farm

Education

Body Farms at the University of Tennessee has collected over 600 bodies donated for the study of forensic science. The bodies are studied as they decompose in different settings such as buried under cement, laid out in the open, placed in a pond, etc. The collections from this data are used for the investigation of crime scenes. Through research bodies are able to be recovered and identified in real criminal cases. While the name “Body Farm” may seem unusual and a little bit brash, the actual work being done is astounding.

Entertainment

The Body Farm’s only goal is to collect research on the decomposition of bodies, and solely that. This claim is supported through several examples. Knoxville does not offer tours of the bodies to anyone. Even family members of the donated body can not tour the site which is made explicitly clear to families of the deceased. This is out of respect for the corpses, and to ensure that the research is not being tampered with. The University is not making any money off of the collection of these decomposing bodies, and if anything they’re losing money because research can be a very costly and timely activity. However, even if the University does not support the public gaining entertainment by the Body Farm that doesn’t mean people are not trying to do so. I found several websites trying to use google maps to view the deceased bodies in the Body Farm. Every website failed to do so as the picture quality is poor, and no one actually knows where the bodies are in the acreage of land set aside for the Body Farm.

Website attempting to view the bodies

Religion

A question out the FAQ on the Body Farms website

In order to donate one's body to the Body Farm traditional religious burial practices may not be able to be followed. The Body Farm wants to receive the body in a timely manner in order to conduct research immediately after the death as many bodies decompose very fast in certain settings. Also in order to research the decomposition of a body the body must not be embalmed or cremated so they can view the natural process. This would make it very difficult to have an open casket viewing at the funeral as the body would already be giving off vile fumes. There are no large groups of religious bodies against the Body Farm. This is due to the productive goal of using dead bodies for criminal investigation. Unlike Body Worlds, there is little grey area of questioning the purpose of the Body Farm.

Works Cited

"Body Donation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)." UT Knoxville. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://fac.utk.edu/donationfaqs.html>.

"The Body Farm & Beyond." YouTube. YouTube, 20 Jan. 2008. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qZmLo8qIx4>.

"Body Farm (University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Facility) (Google Maps)." Virtual Globetrotting. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/body-farm-university-of-tennessee-forensic-anthropology-facility/view/?service=0>.

Body Worlds. Gunther Von Hagen's Body Worlds the Original Exhibition Student Guide. N.p.: Body Worlds, n.d. Bodyworlds.com. Body Worlds, Sept. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://www.bodyworlds.com/Downloads/englisch/Exhibition/free%20Material/Guides/BW_STUDENTGUIDE_US.pdf>.

Body Worlds- The Plastination Technique. YouTube. Body Worlds, 16 May 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgAQS16cPVQ>.

Fanpop.com. Cirque Du Soleil, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Cirque-du-Soleil-cirque-du-soleil-155503_500_353.jpg>.

Metaxas, Eric. "Re: 'Ghoulish Art' the Body Worlds Exhibit." Weblog comment. Breakpoint Commentaries. Breakpoint, 18 May 2012. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/19397>.

N.d. Gunther Von Hagen's Body Worlds. Bodyworlds.com. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://www.bodyworlds.com/en/prelude.html#images>.