BS: Is this in poor taste?

Subject: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 09:42 PM

Uk TV station Channel 4 has announced it is devoting a television special caled "Dust to Dust" to filming the decomposition of a human body over 2 months.It is appealing for a dying person to donate their body to be used for the show.
Channel 4's director of Television says "Its a valid subject to examine death, and waht happens to the human body after death"
Channel 4 are not new to controversey, they showed a public autopsy [see mudcat thread BS Public Autopsy"], and last year they showed a documentary called Beijing Swings, wich showed a man eating a dead baby, in in 1999 they sowed Animal Passioms, a documentary about bestiality which showed featured a man who admitted having sex with a pony, and a woman that had sex with a dog.

Defending such programmes Channel 4 says " we have a right, and an obligation under our remit to explore and examine challenging and difficult subjects"

Do we really want to watch dead bodies rotting on television?
I imagine there are a few [probably less than 100], people in the UK that would find such footage useful, [patholigists etc], but why show this stuff on national television.

I suppose the answer is, "if you dont want to watch it, you dont have to", but surely they could put something better than this?

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 09:54 PM

It will probably be so, yes. Besides, it's already been done at the Body Farm. This strikes me as sensationalism, not science.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 10:09 PM

As I recall, the author Patricia Cornwell (Cornwall?) used the 'Body Farm' in at least one of her novels with the forensic scientist protagonist, so I already knew about its existence. I can imagine that the ability of the law and the courts to track the rate of decomposition is useful.

As to having a Television program(me) depicting it or the other subjects jOhn describes- WOW! The UK people obviusly have a much higher tolerance than US audiences for what is brought into our homes. We still freak at frontal nudity, and we're not too comfortable with backal nudity.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: frogprince
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 10:14 PM

Somebody here in the States will try to copy this, or at least get it to broadcast here. It might have been remotely possible to make some
kind of case for the decomposition broadcast, but their past "track record" (a man eating a dead baby?) blows any credibility as to them
doing this for any defensible motive. How can we avoid censorship, with all it's potential for abuse, if some little kid can turn on a TV in an unguarded moment and come up with this?

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: musicmick
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 10:19 PM

Of course, it's in bad taste. So what? Since when is taste the determining factor in television programing? Prime Time TV is a hash and rehash of people behaving foolishly and cruelly in skewed views of "reality". Women compete to marry wealth, men compete to marry beauty, everyone plays cut throat for mythical jobs, and they call it reality. Maybe it is. Can you watch day time TV and be appalled by decomposition? Hey, lighten up. I'd love to know what channel 4's ratings are.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 10:34 PM

Is this in poor taste? Well, sure..

But looking at TV in general, what's the question here?

It's all in poor taste.

Scarey on just how many folks there are who find any of it, much less watching a corpse decompose, entertaining???

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: dianavan
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 10:42 PM

My concern is the same as with violence on television. When such subjects are viewed over and over again, it creates a sense of 'normalcy' which is in fact, abnormal. Most people can differentiate but some people cannot.

Its the same as watching crime on t.v. If you view it often enough, you become fearful, if not paranoid. In fact, most of the crimes depicted will never be a part of your day to day life. How many murders have you seen on t.v.? How many murders have you actually witnessed? Is murder really something you need to be exposed to over and over again?

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Deckman
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 11:00 PM

I could sure suggest a body for this TV documentory ... but my suggestion might also be considered in bad taste! Oh Well, I didn't vote for him either. Bob (looking for his coat and heading out the back door)

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 11:22 PM

This started with Beethoven. He was observed sitting up in his coffin erasing a manuscript for his Ninth Symphony. They asked him, "What're you doing?" He answered, "Decomposing!!"

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Deckman
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 11:59 PM

Art!!! SISSS BOOOM BAH!!! GET THE HOOK!! GET THE HOOK! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 12:10 AM

I remember a TV special on spontaneous combustion that included the entire filming of the burning of a human corpse. The idea was to see if enough heat could be generated to destroy the body while leaving the room in tact. Gross, unnecessary and in poor taste.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Dead Horse
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 01:17 AM

To follow their huge success with I'm A Celebrity... I hear that a certain tv company is planning to show *Paint, drying*.
Should prove even more popular, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 01:22 AM

I dunno. Watching a dead body decompose sounds like more fun than trainspotting.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 04:38 AM

We can only hope they get an accordion player, dubya or tony bliar.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: kendall
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:17 AM

People with taste don't watch tv anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:01 AM

When I was in college the US had laws requiring that cadavers be treated with dignity. The laws are probably still there.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Peace
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:09 AM

What's a TV?

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:13 AM

I guess I'll have to weigh in on the other side here, and say that if it was a high quality science program on forensics and forensic anthropology, I would watch it. Not an entire program of watching a body decompose, but I'd be interested to see it in a time lapse context.

Peoples' objections to the natual aspects of life and death always amaze me. Body decomposition is the natural opposite of a fetus developing in utero. Maybe some of you would be disgusted by time lapse photography of a fetus developing too? Probably not. Peoples' disgust at this is more about the fear of death and dying, than the actuall gross out factor of the subject matter, methinks.

I also have a question. I can see how a man could force himself on a pony. But how exactly does a woman get a dog to cooperate?

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Peace
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:21 AM

Same way she gets a man to cooperate.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:26 AM

I'm yet to meet a dog who can change the oil in the car and mow the lawn.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:28 AM

I don't think so brucie. There are more anatomical technicalities involved here than just jumpin' on a boner.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 11:08 AM

What Kendall said...

Regarding the dog problem, Guest, I think the dog has to be of a reasonably large breed, for a start...small dogs, forget it.

Then the woman would have to assume a position which would allow the dog to, well, you know...I don't really want to go into further details, but use your imagination.

There is nothing in this world so stupid or unnatural that you cannot find some fool willing to do it for money! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 11:20 AM

I'm trying to visualize that butt to butt position the dogs always end up in once things get going. Certainly that must qualify as an anatomical challenge for a human female?

Unless we are talking lesbian love, perhaps? ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 11:23 AM

Yes

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 11:48 AM

It's dead simple. She gets on her hands and knees. Dog mounts. What more do you need to know?

It's also dead stupid. And in very poor taste.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 12:00 PM

Don't worry jOhn, its only a matter of time before we're all hooked on I'm a Maggot, get me out of here.

Sure, you'll be voting for your favourite - phoning in! My favourite is the maggot who was in Boyzone etc!

It'll catch on - no doubt about it

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 03:46 PM

As interesting as decomposition is from a scientific point of view, as a TV show it would probably rank up there with watching paint dry or grass grow. I mean, the passing off of rigor mortis -- heck, the onset of rigor -- isn't something with a lot of visual interest. After the flies and maggot finish and the gases have escaped, things sort of melt. Oh, I supposed watching adipocere form might be interesting, but again, it's not a 15-second thing....

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:30 PM

That reminds me, I have to go the the "Marmalade" site (Marmalade the cat) and see if he's on the live webcam at the moment. He wasn't the last time I looked.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:48 PM

Yikes! Marmalade is dead. Heart troubles did him in, apparently. His body is not being displayed on camera.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 03:29 AM

Is there anything that Channel 4 TV would not consider broadcasting?

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 07:58 AM

Flamenco!

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 08:04 AM

There is a God then.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 08:29 AM

Jack Hudson in concert - they're a bit slow on that one.

I keep e-mailing UK Gold to transmit Howards Way again.... I was crazy about Suuzanne Gilmore who played Avril Rolf - they told me to sod off, or words denoting that.

as you say...... strange what they do decide to send us.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 08:38 AM

The lack of Flamenco has nothing to do with God, it's merely a matter of good taste on the part of the programmers. As for watching something decompose, what's new? We've been watching our society decomposing for years.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 08:53 PM

Why worry about whats on tv I must admit for the past week R3 on a night has been full of carol crap but theres other things to do

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Peace
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 12:35 AM

To address the question, jOhn, the show is in better taste than the Singles thread. Howzat.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 07:55 PM

Several years ago there was a documentary shown on Oz TV called (I think - it was many years ago) "Bodyworks". It looked at the funeral industry and death, and started off when someone died until they were well and truly decomposed without actually showing a body. It was divided into chapters like a book - and the start of each chapter showed the same bunch of flowers. At first they were fresh, lovely, just-picked; but as time went on they became wilted, droopy, slimy. The commentary described what happened to the body at each stage of decomposition but it wasn't shown, the flowers did the showing. It was very clever, won an award or 2 as I remember, and is probably still available.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: GUEST,Lyle
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 08:21 PM

I have no idea what the motive is for this show, but the idea of watching bodies decompose might have merit. There is a place in the US where there is a very large farm that has a variety of landforms and is very hilly. They place dead bodies in all sort of places around this farm to simple decompose naturally. They are inspected on a regular basis, and pictures and observations are carefully made. You would be surprised at the number of murders that have been solved because of this data. They can almost pinpoint the hour of death and the hour of "deposit" when a body is found, even though it was placed there years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: Peace
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 08:37 PM

So, business is dead you say?

Subject: RE: BS: Is this in poor taste?
From: JennyO
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 08:12 AM

This reminded me immediately of a very strange film I saw some years ago. The parts of it that stuck in my mind the most, showed, through time lapse photography, the decomposition of various dead animals.

It was a Peter Greenaway film A Zed and Two Noughts. It was quite fascinating, in a bizarre sort of way, and the music, by Michael Nyman, was brilliant. Although it was not for the faint hearted, those scenes worked well within the context of the film.

Unfortunately I fear Channel 4's motives to be based more on sensationalism than anything else.