Mortuary Science: Restorative Art / Restoration / Demisurgery / Embalming
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What is Restorative Art?
or, "what are they DOING to that guy??"
Those were actually the first words out of my mouth when I saw it...
My curiosity about this procedure did not just pop into my head one day (no pun intended). It came about after viewing an 8mm film through an old fashioned film viewer. Grainy as it was, I could tell I was watching something weird, something I'd never seen before. Something most people had never seen.
Watch our new Youtube clip: Restorative Art / Restoration Embalming clip
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Those were actually the first words out of my mouth when I saw it...
My curiosity about this procedure did not just pop into my head one day (no pun intended). It came about after viewing an 8mm film through an old fashioned film viewer. Grainy as it was, I could tell I was watching something weird, something I'd never seen before. Something most people had never seen.
Watch our new Youtube clip: Restorative Art / Restoration Embalming clip
Take a look at my Embalming Video Showcase
Visit our website
Restorative Art
What is Restorative Art anyway??
After the initial shock from the graphic content, I launched into a research frenzy. I love research! Strangely enough, I did not come up with much except for some repetitive (read: copied) definitions on various websites. The jist of it is that Restorative Art, along with embalming, is our modern-day, Westernized version of the ancient art of body preservation after death.
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Links about Embalming and Restorative Art
- Wiki Article on History of Embalming
- Embalming, in most modern cultures, is the art and science of temporarily preserving human remains to forestall decomposition and to make them suitable...
- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Embalming
- This website will focus on the first definition (what kind of person would say "That perfume she embalmed herself with is really getting me going?!")
- Snyder's Embalming
- Well, you gotta click on it, don't you?
More on Restorative Art
Restorative art today is the process of reconstructing or restoration, especially facial and cranium features, of bodies that are badly damaged from accident or disease, for presentation in the casket at the funeral.
The major mortuary colleges offer courses in Restorative Art or Restoration Embalming and it takes serious training to become accomplished. Some funeral home directors may hand over this type of work to specialists.
And this is what the film is all about - training the students in this speciality. The scenes show the students working "hands on" with the instructors as they are shown various restoration techniques.
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More links on embalming & mortuary science
- National Geographic Embalming Video
- FREE! View their excellent embalming video.
- National Funeral Directors Association
- A career in Funeral Services? Why not!
Now, what to do with the film footage...
Strangely enough, if you put the words "restorative art" in your favorite search engine, you come up with as many links for embalming as for restoring works of art. As I considered my luck in running across these two cannisters of film, I also considered how it relates to my interest in art.
Watching the footage it became apparent that not only did the successful student need to know anatomy, they also needed to be an expert sculptor! The up close and personal view of the students at work, gruesome as it is, gave me a new-found respect for morticians. Their job is tough, as they must have a profound spiritual connection to both the living and the dead, and possess scientific and artistic skills. A strange connection to art...
I debated what to do with the films, deciding finally that they should be converted to digital format. I figured that the historical and technical aspects of this 1938 footage were bound to interest morticians, and no doubt pique the curiosity of many mortals.
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This material has never been seen by the public
If you are a mortuary sciences student you really should see this film. You'll see the differences in materials used and techniques taught in 1938 as compared to today's methods.
Where to buy weird funeral and death related stuff
- Bluelips
- The epitomy of unusual! Chocolate body parts?
You can buy the 1938 Restorative Art DVD here! - Pushindaisies
- A mortuary novelty shop. You'll love what they dig up for you!
You can buy the 1938 Restorative Art DVD here! - Undergroundhumor.com
- The funeral service profession's subterranean source for gifts and novelties.
Buy Embalming & Restorative Art Stuff on Amazon
Embalming 1938 Restorative Art Documentary
Filmed by mortuary students in an era of silent fi more...0 points
Embalming-the Final Chapter
William Ellenberg is a well respected Funeral Dire more...0 points
Where to study Mortuary Science and Funeral Directing
- Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
- Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science has been setting the standard in mortuary science education since 1882, making it the nation's oldest school of its kind.
- Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science
- The Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science offers an extensive program designed to prepare students for the many challenges they will encounter as funeral service professionals.
- Worsham College of Mortuary Science
- Worsham College of Mortuary Science, founded in 1911, is a private institution offering an Associates Degree in twelve months.
- National Funeral Directors Association
- NFDA's Funeral Career Center is the Funeral Industry's exclusive resource for online employment connections
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Blog Posts from Google
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- PotD: Mortuary Science. Another weird class... MCC offers a Mortuary Science class where students le...
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- Law would allow students to get hands-on experience at school.
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